scourge is obvious. But how deep does the problem go. In the six and final part in this series, Senior Reporter Matthew Taylor talks with National Drugs Commission CEO Dr. Derrick Binns.

Despite the fear of drug use and its consequences there are few statistics on how badly Bermuda has been hit by the drug problem. The most recent figures date back to a 1995 door-to-door survey of a 1,000 households who were asked about drug use.

Based on that National Drugs Commission poll, estimates were made about the wider picture -- but the NDC admits the low numbers owning up to use of hard drugs mean there is a wide margin of error when generalising about the whole population.

It hopes the soon-to-be-released figures from the 1999 poll will help provide a clearer picture. And the NDC is currently piloting a scheme which will channel information direct from the Island's counselling and addiction bodies.

In a wide-ranging interview with NDC Chief Executive Officer Derrick Binns, The Royal Gazette started by asking whether a household survey was the best way to find out the true scale of drug use in Bermuda.

(A) A household survey is the best way to get information we were looking for.

It's designed to minimise error -- we t hink it's good data.

It is just that certain questions asked have to be viewed with caution but it doesn't invalidate the method or the results.

On the subject of heavy drug use only a small sample of people gave us a positive response -- in any survey you must have some degree of caution.

The number of people reporting heavy use of heroin or coke is not sufficient to give us a solid generalisation for the entire population, but that's only two questions out of many.

(Q) But the NDC still does not have hard and fast data about the number of addicts under its umbrella? (A) I look at where we were in 1996 -- it's a time consuming process. The groups we work with have confidential information about their clients. We have had to work out a way of getting statistics without breaching confidentiality and that has taken time. We have had to get the technology to do it.

I think we're moving at the right pace. Four years ago we had no information at all about the extent of use on this Island and now we have two surveys. We will have information from treatment services back in a matter of weeks.

(Q) Your research officer Dr. Julie Dunstan said the number of heavy users of hard drugs in Bermuda was statistically insignificant compared to abusers of alcohol and marijuana -- what is your view? (A) The numbers may not have reached a significant leve l, but in terms of impact on the community they are very significant.

When we get those statistics from the treatment centres we are going to find out what percentage are cocaine users and heroin users, and what are the combinations.

(Q) Your 1996 Strategic Plan called for an anti-drug campaign. What happened to it? (A) It was really asking the question what would happen if we didn't do anything, but that situation never arose. The efforts to combat drugs began years ago with bodies like the National Alcohol and Drugs Agency.

(Q) Your Strategic Plan makes it clear that the NDC has the power, authority, resources and mandate to take action to solve the Island's drug problem? What are you doing? (A) It's the Police's job to catch pushers. We are working successfully with the Police and Customs and we are seeing the results. We are more successful than we had been with interdiction.

(Q) Should the Police have a higher profile in catching the pushers? (A) It's a Police decision about where to place their priorities, but they have a manpower issue. Certainly we would assume when people begin to see open street deals it's seen as almost permission -- it encourages customers to use.

It concerns us -- as availability increases so does usage, so the more street dealing there are, the more people will use it.

(Q) Do you feel the NDC is having to pick up the pieces from lack of Police action? (A) It would be ideal if they could stop the major importers and curb the street dealing. I hope the Police would be in position to do that, but I don't know the extent of the manpower problem. The Police have to make the decisions on the operational level about where to place the emphasis.

(Q) Your Strategic Plan set a goal to reduce alcohol and drugs use by 1999.

Did you manage it? (A) We are still looking at the results of the 1999 survey so I can't answer that yet but hopefully I think we will see some positive movement, perhaps with alcohol and tobacco.

(Q) How do you go about prevention? (A) We are looking at the work place, sports ground and schools -- making them drug free. The Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sport is handling this. Those testing positive will obviously face penalties and conditions if they want to come back into their sport. Everyone selected for this Island to play overseas is tested before they travel. Clubs have to give names of their players to go into a random pool, but there is some concern if you have very young children or retired golfers for example -- should they be subjected to random drug testing. That issue has to be addressed.

Some companies won't hire anyone known to be a drugs user. They might be a physical exam - then they might require them to sign a statement to be drug free. If there is a drop in performance or a change in behaviour there may be drugs involvement. An appointment will be made with a professional but we are not after a witch hunt. But if you don't want to stop you can't be motivated to change your behaviour. (Q) The Strategic Plan called for heavier fines for those in designated zones near schools. Is this working? (A) The potential problem is that the law provides for increased penalties for having drug equipment in increased penalty zones which operate near schools.

But if your house is in one of these zones and you're not involved in selling, you are still subject to increased penalties. The question is did the law intend to target those people? (Q) The Strategic Plan called for comprehensive rehab and after care to be established by 1999. Did that happen? (A) I'm pleased with that complete continuum of care. There was a gap in adolescent treatment but we started Bermuda Youth Counselling Services to provide that. We have detox centres. We have outpatient treatment at Addiction Services. We have day treatment at Turning Point. Fair Havens has residential treatment for women, Harbour Light for men and after care for everyone after that.

(Q) The plan also called on the NDC to identify the root cause for the drug problem. Have you? (A) We are developing that project right now. There are internationally known risk factors. We want to identify factors relevant to Bermuda and also what factors stop people from taking drugs. Known factors elsewhere include those with lower social economic status, lower education levels and lower standards of employment. People in big families are a higher risk, those with learning disabilities also. People who are always in trouble are high risk. But it's a combination of these factors -- just because you have one or more of these characteristics doesn't mean you are going to be a drug user.

(Q) Is there a problem with having to coordinate all the agencies under the NDC umbrella? (A) We work with treatment and preventions, but I can't say it's too many -- there is some overlap particularly where funding issues are involved which we are working to minimise. Ultimately I'd like to see more people in this community take an active stand against the abuse of alcohol and drugs.

(Q) How can they do this? (A) Simply as a parent talk to your child about the use and abuse of substances -- about the harm it can do to their minds and bodies. And you can simply make a decision not to drink and drive. If you've got an abuse problem, you can resolve to get help.

(Q) Health Minister Nelson Bascome said the anti-drugs message had a hard time battling the pro-drugs messages in much of popular culture. What's your view? (A) The media has a tremendous influence on people's attitudes and beliefs, particularly on children. We should use the same media to counteract that. A lot of Christian music is now using hip-hop, dub and reggae to get another kind of message across.

(Q) Do you get the feeling that many Bermudians see marijuana and alcohol as socially acceptable? (A) There is a percentage that think it's an OK thing to do. We're not suggesting people should never use alcohol -- just use it responsibly. People should also remember that marijuana is not only harmful but illegal and if they are caught, there are serious consequences.

(Q) Some drug counsellors and users say use of soft drugs like marijuana and alcohol set them on their way to harder drugs. What is your view? (A) That's the gateway theory -- with some people it does work that way. Many people in treatment are multiple substance abusers. The reasons for that vary.

It's related to brain chemistry. When some substances are taken into the body the brain connections are altered and stimulation is sought through chemicals so when the initial substance doesn't provide the stimulus other substances are sought.

(Q) How do you stop that? (A) It can be reversed with treatment but we are still beginning to understand this field.

In some cases people use other chemicals to counteract the effects. There are major studies in the US looking at developing chemicals which can stop addiction without creating further problems. But some people believe you should not take another chemical to relieve yourself of addiction.

(Q) Figures from around the world suggest that only one in ten people manage to kick drugs after going through rehab. Is this frustrating for you? (A) We are trying to reduce use -- many people need more than one period of treatment before they get into a long period of recovery. The longer the treatment the longer the recovery is likely to be. If someone doesn't use for three years and then slips up you have to remember that's three years his family, work mates and community didn't have to put up with the fallout of that person's addiction.

(Q) What has the NDC achieved? (A) When we started there was no national plan to tackle drug abuse. Now we are revising our first (1996) plan. There was no adolescent counselling or after care. Now we have that.

There was no technical support in the agency. Now we're doing that. There was little ongoing training. Now we have pros in the field providing that. Far from being frustrated we are pleased with the developments taking place.

People should recognise that there are facilities available on this Island and qualified people providing treatment on this Island, meeting international standards of certification. There are treatment facilities for males, but the perception lingers that there is nothing.

But in order for Bermuda to make major inroads it requires all of us to recognise the importance of this issue.

The NDC became fully operational in 1994 with the mandate of drug prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and education. It has a budget of $1.8 million dollars plus a further $1.3 which has been set aside for the Drug Court. The NDC sets the national policy on drugs and provides funding and support for various counselling and treatment bodies. The NDC has seven full-time posts including Chief Executive Officer Dr. Derrick Binns.

Dr. Derrick Binns.

ESTIMATED HEAVY DRUG ABUSERS IN BERMUDA Marijuana 2,526 - 4,126 Cocaine 270- 989 Heroin 34 - 580 Crack 60 - 584