The Women?s Treatment Centre is up and running with an additional two beds.

The centre, which treats women with alcohol and drug addiction, can now accommodate ten women.

Minister of Social Rehabilitation, Dale Butler, said the Government was committed to expanding drug treatment facilities on the Island.

He said: ?This Government is serious about empowering the vulnerable and providing life rafts for the desperate.

?The need for such a programme is clear ? there are currently five women on the waiting list for admission to the facility. There has always been a waiting list of not less than four since the programme?s inception.?

The programme began in 2006, since then seven clients have completed it and are holding down jobs in the community. Two of the woman have also been awarded scholarships to continue their education.

Mr. Butler added: ?This experience shows that treatment does work.?

The facility used to be on Cambridge Road, Sandy?s, but Mr. Butler declined to say where it is now located because of client confidentiality.

He also announced that another premises was being prepared as a transitional living centre for women who have completed the programme. When it is opened the facility will cater to ten women, eight more than the current transitional living premises.

The announcement means that more people will be able to access drug treatment.

Treatment officer Joanne Dean said that Turning Point currently deals with 250 addicts a year, Harbour Light can care for 10 people at a time while Camp Spirit deals with 14 people a session and Focus Counselling Services has 22 clients a year.

Ms Dean said they Ministry also hoped add an additional six to ten beds for male addicts over the coming year.

With the increase in treatment facilities Mr. Butler said the Ministry was also concerned about increasing the number of qualified staff and urged Bermudians interested in learning more about career opportunities in drug treatment to call the Ministry.

He said he hoped that the new beds would help reduce the drug problem on the Island but stressed that prevention was the ultimate long term solution.

He also urged the public to see the Department of National Drug Control as a clearing house for information on substance abuse and contact them with any questions about treatment and other services.