against the rising drug problem.

Through the development of community groups -- made up of individuals pulling together to create a drug-free society -- the Commission hopes that in time Bermuda's drug problem will decrease.

The NDC was launched with a 1991 proposal by Canadian consultant Dr. David Archibald. He recommended an organisation independent of Government that would ensure all people in Bermuda worked together to guarantee community efforts against the drugs scourge be put in place.

NDC chairman Mr. Alastair Macdonald said last week the mandate for the NDC was still to "reduce substance abuse on the Island''.

"Alcohol is the drug of choice in this community because it is legal. And we have to deal with that as well as illegal drugs,'' he said.

"We are here to help existing programmes grow and be more effective, and do whatever needs to be done.

"We also want to bring the community in on the project, and involve all sectors in dealing with the drug problem.'' Mr. Macdonald noted that the Commission was planning to go in two directions in order to confront the drug problem.

Their first goal was to reduce the availability and access of drugs which is monitored by Police and Customs.

The second was to reduce the demand for drugs through various programmes, particularly in the schools. Teachers needed to emphasise to pupils the harm caused by using drugs.

Mr. Macdonald said the NDC wanted to focus on community development -- forming community groups to take control of problems within the community.

The NDC's new chief executive officer, Mrs. Eugenie Simmons, has designed a community development model which is currently being tested in St. David's.

"This is aimed at rebuilding Bermuda's communities, creating local support groups and internal support,'' Mrs. Simmons explained.

"In certain areas there has been a general deterioration of the community.

We are tending to see the more visual signs of erosion due to substance abuse and crime.

"Because of the growth of two income families, there is a breakdown of family structure,'' she added.

"Parents don't have direct control of their children because they are left home by themselves, and eventually it takes its toll.'' Mrs. Simmons added that children who were in a two income family were not able to deal with stress because there was no-one to guide them and give support.

People reach for alcohol and drugs as an escape from problems, or they saw drugs as a quick and easy way to make money.

She added that many people were finding it difficult to get jobs, so they were turning to an alternate way of making money -- selling drugs.

"All these problems need to be reversed and addressed,'' Mrs. Simmons said.

The NDC chose to conduct the pilot study in the St. David's community because the area did not have an existing community group.

"We did not want to go in an area of high need in case the model failed,'' Mrs. Simmons said.

"Geographically, St. David's is in a nice area and it provided a helpful location. The people were also very interested.'' She said the people in St. David's were already pulling together and talking about organising ways to get drugs out of their community.

"Substance abuse is usually the end result of underlying problems and stress,'' said Mrs. Simmons.

Such stress could stem from economic difficulties, growing up in dysfunctional family situations, frustrations at not being able to reach personal goals, lack of education, and unemployment.

She said the aim of community groups was to bring people together to recreate the old community atmosphere in which people kept an eye out for each other, their children and imposed discipline when needed.

"These groups will help people work through problems and educate the community about substance abuse and how to reduce it,'' Mrs. Simmons said.

Their goals could be accomplished through community meetings, lectures by invited guests such as Police officers or staff members from one of the programmes, or newsletters. The work was aimed at promoting an understanding of what people were dealing with.

The groups would also address other problems in the community such as the need for an increase in street lighting, increased activities, road repairs and other issues that went beyond the drug problem.

Mr. Macdonald said the groups would help people look after themselves and each other, and take control of their communities.

"They can be powerful, if structured properly,'' he said. "I hope they develop as strong groups and exist so they can be effective. We want to go back to the idea of people looking after each other.'' He added that people already addicted to drugs required treatment, but that no single drugs treatment programme worked for everyone.

"The Commission is trying to build Addiction Services, Montrose Substance Abuse Centre and Fair Havens Christian Care Centre into stronger, more effective programmes instead of creating new ones.

"But currently they are under-funded and are doing the best they can with the funds and support they have.'' Mr. Macdonald added that the NDC wanted to create an opportunity for those who were prepared to break the habit.

Mrs. Simmons said that other communities were now showing an interest in community development and were waiting for the NDC to help. She said she hoped to incorporate the programme in every area of Bermuda.

Mr. Macdonald noted the commission's budget of $1,039,000 was not yet clearly defined. "We have to determine what portion of the budget will go into staffing and what portion will go into the programmes and other things.

"We were told by Government that if that amount was insufficient then we were to go back to them,'' Mr. Macdonald said. "We have to spend the money very wisely.'' He added that so far there was one staff member, and three temporary staff, seconded from other Government departments.

Mrs. Simmons said that because the NDC had not been fully staffed, the board was at the forefront, having to get involved directly because there was no-one to delegate to.

"The role of employees is to provide the board of directors with technical information which will help formulate sound policies and plans.

"Once the policy is made it goes back into the community. The staff makes it something operational,'' Mrs. Simmons said.

"That is why the commission is so vague in people's minds. Until the commission is staffed, and technical staff is in place, our ability is limited in what we are able to do.'' Mr. Macdonald admits that trying to decrease the drug problem is an enormous job.

"I see a huge task in front of us because the drug problem is growing and a lot of energy has to be spent.

"It's going to take us a number of years to make a major dent in Bermuda's drug problem. Some of the preventive strategies are going to take a few years to have an impact.'' The NDC had to determine how they could ensure children would grow up in stable, secure homes.

"If we are going to deal with this, we have to start with the kids. But in the meantime we have to deal with current addicts and then balance on both sides,'' Mr. Macdonald said.

"We have to deal with the existing problem and reduce the future problem.

It's going to be a tough balancing act.'' Mrs. Eugenie Simmons.

Mr. Alastair Macdonald