The anti drug slogan "Just say No" may have worked in the 1980s but drug prevention programmes have had to evolve to meet today's needs, according to PRIDE.

Judith Burgess, who is the Executive Director of PRIDE Bermuda, said over the past 18 months the charity has evolved from focusing solely on drug prevention to setting up programmes to dissuade anti-social behaviour.

In October last year it began teaching CARON life skills classes in school rooms across the Island.

The programmes vary from focusing on teen issues such as relationship skills, self-empowerment, academic stress and peer concerns to anger management focus groups.

The focus groups are smaller break out groups that meet to discuss a particular issue, be it anger management or living with parents who are addicts. The ten week programmes aim to give teenagers the tools they need to navigate life and avoid becoming a statistic.

"We are working with three high schools and two middle schools, Mrs. Burgess said. "A lot of the programme focuses on life skills and leadership development. Teaching the students about anger management, and basic life skills, will help answer some of the anti social behaviour we have seen recently.

"Drug prevention is important but we are also trying to get to the root of the problem, why do young people feel they have to turn to drugs and alcohol?

"It has been going very well so far and it is moving faster than we expected."

Gina Spence Farmer, who works at PRIDE, said: "We wanted to remove the barriers to learning, whatever they may be.

"With the children of addicts focus group we are working on building up relationships with one another so they can deal with the environment they find themselves in and talk to each other about it."

As well as the new school programme Mrs. Burgess, who has worked in drug prevention for 20 years, wants to create a programme for parents.

"I think parents need to learn it is OK not to be friends with your children," she said. "It is OK to say no.

"That is how PRIDE started there were a group of us parents who wanted to set rules for what is acceptable behaviour in our homes and wanted the support of other parents."

PRIDE is also working on community outreach, in particular its popular Community Voices programme which is done in conjunction with ZBM on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

The show has seen family members of people shot come and discuss the impact Bermuda's spiralling gun crime is having on their lives.

The programme aims to ensure people in the community are aware of the assistance that is out their for them and has highlighted the importance of counselling.