yesterday from the man who ten years ago urged Bermuda to galvanise the entire community in its fight against the scourge of substance abuse.

Dr. David Archibald, who recommended the creation of the National Drug Commission in his report of 1985, returned to Bermuda yesterday to take part in next week's public launch of the Partners' $5 million cash drive.

Working together for a common objective put Bermuda "absolutely on the right path,'' he said.

Speaking at Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan's lunch at Stonington Hotel to acknowledge 11 $100,000 "leadership gifts'' to the Partners' fundraising campaign, Dr. Archibald said ten years was not such a long a time for Bermuda to organise itself in the war against drugs.

"It does take a long time...but the nature of this problem is such that there is no simple solution,'' he said.

He believed that since his report tremendous progress had been made.

While Bermuda had been acting on it, he had undertaken a similar drugs strategy advisory role in Thailand, he noted.

"I think I've stated this a number of times, and that is Bermuda is one of the few countries in the Western Hemisphere that could be successful in significantly reducing the many problems in relation to drug abuse. ..for numerous reasons including its geography, economics, the available human resources.

"But it will take a great will and determination on the part of all Bermudians, of all races, political persuasions and socio-economic groups.

That is the foundation, when we realise the problem is really national in scope and no person escapes its impact.'' Sir John agreed, warning, "None of us is free from the risk of drugs. ..We are all our brother's keeper.'' Human Affairs Minister the Hon. Jerome Dill, commending the Partners' initiative, said, "I am extremely pleased the Council Partners have undertaken the task because quite frankly if they had not, we in Government would have had to and no Government on the face of this earth could do what the Council Partners has done.'' He noted the coalition's campaign committee, headed by Mrs. Katherine Watson, Mrs. Janine Lines and Mrs. Susan Butterfield, had raised $2.5 million privately in only a few months.

The official launch of the public cash drive is slated for Tuesday.

CAMPAIGN LEADERS -- Eleven companies and business people are presented with commemorative posters in recognition of their $100,000 or more donations to the Council Partners campaign. Pictured at a lunch hosted by the Premier yesterday at Stonington Hotel are from left, front: Mr. Brian O'Hara of XL, Mr. Malcolm Gosling of the Licensed Victuallers Association, Mr. Fernance Perry, Mr. Michael Butt of Mid Ocean Re. And (back) Mr. Jay Ralph of Centre Re, Mr. Douglas Kline of Oil Management, NDC chairman Mr. Mansfield Brock, Bank of Bermuda vice president Mr. Louis Mowbray and Mr. Robert Stewart of the Bank of Butterfield allocations fund committee. Absent are Mr. Walter Scott of ACE Ltd. and Mr. John Deuss of Trans World Oil.