example, families connect in serious ways, but how they perform as a unit is based on individual desires to work as a unit. It's where the NDC is doing a great job; providing a vehicle to assist in achieving a meaningful and healthy life. "They ask `How are we working together?' not `Are we working together?'. As a client works with one of the agencies and begins to stop using alcohol and drugs and begins to engage in his life with pride and love, we need to be able to engage with that as well. That's where partnership is not just a buzz word, it's the reality of getting things done. "Some of the changes which are occurring begin with the question of `How can we do this?' and `Who should be involved?' You can't please everyone, but the idea is to please some at first and then build on that. The NDC has shown that, for example, having made the decision to establish recovery facilities as its priority. This is a decision that shows leadership.'' The job that he and those who operate under the auspices of the Council Partners Charitable Trust, is an extremely rewarding one, said Mr. Johnson. "I think that the reason why this field attracts so many people is because it is based on hope. (Clients) hope that someone else doesn't have to experience what they have experienced; they hope that their experiences can help someone in the future. I'm passionate about this. It's a unique business. It's about private organisations responding, about Government responding, and the community responding. And they all do so only to learn what they can do to make this a better community, and that is the essence of philanthropy and charitable giving. I think all of us are encouraged by the opportunity to work in an environment where we are appreciated for what we can bring and our skills are encouraged to increase each year. "It's all based on hope, the essence of the community, and its desire to change. I think that we really have a wonderful mechanism on the Island that continues to grow and strengthen, and what spurs us on is that we can always do more. That drug dealing and drug use is a business is clear to us. We need to be more business-like in our presence.

What gives us hope is that the better we do our job, the less concerned we will be as to how they are doing their job. The laws, Police, Crime Stoppers, they're all part of a really powerful mechanism designed to those who are in the business of drug growth and drug proliferation. "These are issues that confront some families and I think we need to find courage as a community to help each other do that. The NDC has done an excellent job leading the community in its suggestion that it move to drug courts. It's an excellent way to identify the uniqueness of this business especially when you look at Drug fight seizure. It's a powerful mechanism. Identifying people have a particular focus on alcohol and drugs and what it is that brings them before the courts will enable us to bring justice and make changes. Drug courts will come to the Island because they've shown to be working elsewhere. And it has been shown elsewhere that asset seizure works and it can be used in our fight against drugs.'' DRUGS SUPPLEMENT DGS