One of the Island's leading drug prevention activists this week emphasised the importance of drug education for Bermuda's youth.

In a speech at Hamilton Rotary's weekly luncheon, Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE) executive director Judith Burgess expressed her "love for young people'' and outlined how her charity was tackling the major problem of drug abuse among them.

She explained that since PRIDE's formation some 13 years ago, numerous programmes have been introduced to the Island's calendar specifically for the education of both parents and youngsters on the dangers of drugs.

One such programme is Club PRIDE, a two-day conference which takes place every year to give youngsters a chance to learn about drugs.

Other similar projects included after school programmes and summer camps for older teenagers at which they took part in activities such as theatre, dance and martial arts.

Ms Burgess stressed the need for "fun, drug-free activities'' and appealed to parents to act as a "positive influence'' in their lives.

She quoted Abraham Lincoln, saying: "`The fate of humanity lies in our children's hands'.'' Ms Burgess also said her drive to help was strengthened by recent studies by the National Drug Commission which stated that drug use among children was on the rise.

She pledged to "work to ensure that there are young people who care about there community and their environment''.

And she hoped to do this with the help of such events as Red Ribbon Week which is being held in October this year and sponsored by the Bermuda Electric Light Company Ltd.

Judith Burgess