is facing in its war on drugs, according to Bermuda's delegates to the 13th annual Commonwealth small countries conference.

Drug Policy in Small Countries was the first topic tackled, the Department of Information Services said this week.

Bermuda's education system, which was success-oriented and stressed material acquisitions, was part of the problem, Independent Sen. Norma Astwood said in her address, an Information officer said.

She claimed the emphasis on materialism often turned many teenagers off schools and resulted in their turning to drug trafficking in order to satisfy their material aspiration.

Sen. Astwood, a psychologist, further submitted several youngsters were being introduced to drugs by substance-abusing parents.

And she cautioned delegates against underestimating the sophistication and efficiency of the drug dealer network.

The officer said that Transport Minister the Hon. Ralph Marshall said Bermuda had declared an all-out war against drugs, citing the recently passed National Drug Commission Act.

Opposition MP Mr. Reginald Burrows said he believed excessive alcohol consumption was a root cause of the problem.

Alcohol abuse did more damage to society than all other illicit drugs combined. And the drug problem would flourish as long as the evils of alcohol abuse persisted.

Delegates from all the small countries agreed drug trafficking was a global problem.

They called for collective action to deal with it locally and internationally.

Facets of the problem, they said, included increased crime, family disruption, anonymity of the drug barons, AIDS and the creation of underground, drug related economies. Sen. Astwood, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Burrows flew to Cyprus last week for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference, which ends today.