Substance-use disorder is one of Bermuda’s most urgent and most under-addressed public health crises. It destabilises families, burdens health and justice systems, and leaves communities fractured. Yet we continue to treat it primarily through a criminal justice lens, focusing on punishment over prevention, and incarceration over care.

One in three Bermudian households report living with someone who misuses alcohol or drugs. According to the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, roughly 75 per cent of Bermuda’s road fatalities are linked to substance use. These are not just statistics — they are symptoms of deeper trauma, unaddressed mental health needs and system failures that affect us all.

At Focus Counselling Services, we stand on the front lines of addiction recovery. Every day, we meet individuals who want to heal, parents desperate to protect their children, and families searching for hope. We meet people who have been turned away from support because of stigma, criminal records or lack of resources — and yet they still return, still try, still fight for a second chance.

Addiction is not a moral failing. It is a chronic, treatable health condition, often rooted in adverse childhood experiences, trauma and systemic inequality. Treating it as a moral failing or criminal issue only deepens the damage. But when we treat it with science, compassion and consistency, recovery becomes not just possible, it becomes powerful.

Evidence shows that for every dollar spent on addiction treatment, up to $11 are saved in health and justice system costs. The return on investment is clear. This is not only a compassionate approach, but also fiscally responsible leadership.

To truly address addiction, Bermuda must lead with courage, connection and community-wide action. That means:

1, Ending the stigma

Stigma kills. It keeps people silent and prevents them from accessing care. By promoting understanding and empathy, we can replace shame with support.

2, Investing in prevention

Early intervention matters. We must invest in youth programming, mental health education, and safe, supportive environments that reduce risk factors and strengthen resilience.

3, Expanding access to care

Treatment options must be trauma-informed, inclusive and accessible to all. From outpatient counselling to long-term sober living and wraparound support, people must be able to get help when they need it, without shame or delay.

Supporting reintegration

Recovery does not end with discharge. We must ensure those in recovery can access housing, employment, education and community support. Reintegration is a key part of lasting healing.

Focus Counselling Services has provided compassionate, evidence-based addiction support since 1994. Today, we are scaling up. Our Root & Rise initiative blends evidence-based treatment, job training, environmental stewardship and community empowerment — all rooted in sustainability and healing. We are also expanding our youth programming and forging partnerships across the helping sector to ensure long-term impact.

Recovery is not a linear path. It takes time, patience and collective effort. But every person who heals from addiction strengthens our island. They become mentors, parents, workers and leaders. They carry our community forward.

We call on the Bermuda Government to prioritise addiction in health and social policy. We ask employers to offer fair-chance hiring. We urge schools and churches to speak openly about addiction and foster healing spaces. And we invite you — to learn more, donate, volunteer or simply offer someone the benefit of belief.

Because Bermuda cannot rise while addiction continues to pull us down. But with compassion, commitment and community, we can heal and rise. Together.

• Leslie Grant is the executive director of Focus Counselling Services. To support our work or learn more about Focus Counselling Services and the Root & Rise initiative, visit www.focus.bm or contact us on 296-2196/info.focus@focus.bm