If a community is going to come together to promote sustainable development, individuals with substance abuse problems must be given support and encouragement to become productive members of society.

Speaking at the Bermuda National Conference for Sustainable Development being held at the Bermuda Industrial Union (BIU) last week, Cal Ming, prevention officer at the National Drug Commission, Sandy Butterfield, Director of Focus Counselling Services, and Charles Farmer, Director of Focus's Camp Spirit, all highlighted the need for community involvement in helping those with substance abuse, and a former addict told how his life was transformed after completing Camp Spirit's programme.

Mr. Ming highlighted the increasing number of foreign workers coming to the Island and said Bermudians needed to ensure that every young person developed to their potential.

He called on the media to continue in their role in educating the youth about substance abuse after a recent survey showed this to be an effective tool in the fight against drugs.

He said the survey - which was completed by over 3,700 youths -showed that those involved in religion were far less likely to fall victim to substance abuse.

Mr. Ming also promoted a drug prevention conference being held next week on July 26 and 27 at the Sonesta Beach Hotel.

Ms Butterfield said Focus' main aim was to make people feel better about becoming responsible members of society.

She said participants in Camp Spirit needed to move into transitional accommodation rather than being thrust back into the situations where they would be tempted to use drugs again.

She explained that the charity's support houses had a strict set of rules and residents were expected to have jobs or be at school, as well as cook, clean, do household chores and pay rent.

Ms Butterfield said: "To date there have been no incidents in any supportive residents, and we now have four houses."

The need to accommodate those in need of supportive housing led to the purchase recently of a three-and-a-half acre site in St. George's, but objections from community members has stopped the development from going ahead.

The issue will be resolved next week at a public meeting held at the BIU.

Charles Farmer said Camp Spirit was a 90-day residential relapse prevention programme for clients who have experienced a series of relapse episodes in their attempt to recover from alcohol and other drugs.

Mr. Farmer said the pilot programme, which started in October, 1999, and ran through to June 30, 2000, took in 29 clients, 14 of which completed the programme and of which nine men remain clean and sober.

The second programme from October, 2000, to June, 2001, started with 35 clients, of which 19 completed the programme, and to date, 17 remained clean and sober.

A former Camp Spirit client told the conference that he had been given the tools to take control of his life and understand the disease of addiction.

He highlighted the need for support housing after completing the camp and warned about the dangers of returning to accommodation like the Salvation Army Shelter due to its proximity to drug availability and use.

"What is the point of taking a dirty penny out of the gutter, cleaning and polishing it up, and throwing it back in the gutter?" he asked.