$50,000 a year in the war on drugs.

Businesses Against Drugs (BAD) has been given charitable status by the Charity Commissioners.

It will raise funds for the LISTEN and WINNER drug prevention programmes, and act as their official trustees.

The programmes were formerly directed by the Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

BAD's executive officer Mrs. Maria Davis, appointed to the post by the group's board of directors, said a big fund-raising campaign was now proposed.

It would feature community events, as well as canvassing for donations.

Mrs. Davis said the average company donation was around $300.

"We have a fund-raising target of $50,000 a year, and are planning a public relations blitz to sign up more companies,'' she said.

Mrs. Davis said BAD, an affiliate chapter of LISTEN was formed to better incorporate the business sector in its community-based prevention efforts.

"I toyed with the concept of a name, BAD, and I perceived it would have a psychological impact on the thinking of business executives.

"And it worked. The response we got was very positive indeed.'' BAD's board of trustees also include president Mr. Victor Mello; and secretary/treasurer Mr. Clive Dakin. Mr. Jim Butterfield serves as consultant.

Mrs. Davis, a teacher at Prospect Primary School, said BAD would "piggyback'' on LISTEN, a drug prevention magazine for teenagers.

WINNERS is a drug prevention magazine for pre-teenagers.

"Both are widely accepted by educators throughout Bermuda,'' said Mrs. Davis, a director of LISTEN until last December.

The international publication of the two magazines is governed by Narcotics Education Inc., an independent non-sectarian organisation.

LISTEN has been officially affiliated with the International Commission For the Prevention of Alcoholism (ICPA), which has also now included drugs in its ambit.

The ICPA is an international advocacy organisation working with government leaders and top professionals.

It is an official non-governmental organisation of the United Nations and the World Health Organisation.