drugs so far this year -- most of it heroin. Reporter Karen Smith continues to investigate the extent of Bermuda's drug problem.

Children as young as 12 and 13 are getting hooked on heroin in Bermuda -- and some teenagers are even turning to prostitution to feed their habit.

Addiction counsellor for Focus Counselling Services Kuni Frith-Black said in recent months she had seen more and more youngsters turning to the charity for help.

She said entire families on the Island now had a drug problem, and predicted that before too long, every family in Bermuda would have someone addicted to narcotics.

And the counsellor said unless the community got a hold of the problem now, drugs, especially heroin, would become a "monster'' in no time at all.

"I have seen a growing trend in heroin and cocaine use among much younger people - I am talking about children aged 12 and 13,'' said Mrs. Frith-Black.

"This is very real - the users in Bermuda are getting younger and younger.

"What we are finding happening is lots of times drugs are being used in the home, and drugs are often a source of income in homes.

"So many times we have both parents using drugs freely in front of their children. Their houses may also be used as crack houses.

"Is it any wonder we have young children who think it is the norm and who are becoming addicted?'' But she said many older relatives, and even parents, were encouraging children to sell drugs to help with the family income because she said they believed the Police would not suspect young teenagers of drug pushing.

And she said to many young drug dealers, it was a status symbol. They were able to buy gold jewellry and wear expensive clothes. To them it was a natural progression - almost like joining the family business.

But she said for those users that did not sell drugs, they had to make their money to buy them some other way.

"Where these kids get the money, is a good question,'' added the counsellor.

Counsellor warns of heroin `monster' "It could come from older family members, or friends who have access to the drugs.

"But not all the time do they need money - there is a lot of prostitution going on.

"I wouldn't say this affects youngsters of 12 and 13, but certainly with teenagers it is a problem, and it is absolutely not just with girls. We have a lot of male prostitutes and they are on the increase.'' Mrs. Frith-Black said in the last four years she had seen changes in Bermuda's drug market, especially with heroin use.

And she said, accordingly, the number of phone calls the service is receiving every day has shot up in the last two years.

The charity sees anywhere between 17 and 40 clients every day. But the counsellor said some cases stick out in her mind more than others.

"The worst case for me is possibly an entire family of abusers and dealers, and the house was used as a crack house, as well,'' she said.

"The youngest of that family is a 12-year-old female.

"Counselling has almost left an impression of doom and gloom on me. I love my job, but sometimes it feels like a wasted effort, although I know it isn't.

"I know that for every person who is trying to give up, or has recovered, there are always two more ready to take up the habit.'' But she said although Bermuda had a huge drug problem, especially for its size, she did not think the Island was necessarily any worse than anywhere else. It is merely following the trend, she said.

But she urged members of the community to fight back and to seek help for their family members who were addicted.

"We cannot sit back and say we will see what happens,'' she said.

"It is going to become a monster in the future and everybody needs to get involved now.

"People need to realise that they have to get involved now because some day it could be them who needs the help for a member of their family.'' Shadow Labour and Home Affairs Minister Michael Dunkley said nothing he had heard had shocked him.

But he agreed that it was a community issue and people should seek help for loved ones, or turn dealers in to the Police.

He said: "A lot of people in our community are very concerned and are doing something, but overall, the community in Bermuda has not accepted that we have a huge problem.

"Not every family in the community is affected by it, but before long that will happen. We have a great advantage in Bermuda to really do something because we are so small.

"We are not going to make an impact until we all get involved. People have to stop watching and letting these things happen.''