The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (CADA) was established 21 years ago as The Council on Alcoholism by members of Alcoholics Anonymous. In the mid 1980's, however, Canadian Dr. David Archibald, the consultant who helped develop Bermuda's national drug strategy through his reports in the Royal Commission into the Use and Misuse of Illicit Drugs and Alcohol, encouraged the group, whose aim was to deal with the issue of alcohol abuse, to include drugs in its mandate. As a result, in 1985, the Council on Alcoholism was renamed The Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, according to chairman of CADA Mrs. Janine Lines. CADA offers community education and training about drug addiction and rehabilitation and is committed to fulfilling their mission, which is to educate, facilitate and advocate on behalf of all members of the community to help reduce the social, emotional and financial consequences associated with alcohol and drugs in Bermuda. CADA has recently been active in leading the Council Partners' $5 million fund raising campaign, said Mrs.

Lines, noting that the campaign officially ends in conjunction with Drug Awareness Day on October 21, 1995. "The fund raising has been CADA's major project since the Council Partners' inception two years ago,'' she said.

CADA has working alliance with NDC that end, a productive working relationship has been created with the National Drug Commission. The Council Partners was created out of a need to fund the programmes of charitable agencies focused upon providing solutions to alcohol and drug abuse problems. And its formation has ensured that sound business plans and proper budgets have been developed, duplication of services has been avoided, and resources, strategies and vision are being shared. "This partnership helps the five agencies of The Council Partners stay focused on why we are here: to change human lives and to help ourselves and members of our community understand how they can play a role in reducing crime and violence by addressing alcohol and drug abuse,'' said executive director of CADA Mr. Gordon Johnson. But CADA has also taken on many other community initiatives, said Mrs. Lines, noting that CADA plans to be much more proactive once the fund raising campaign is over. The first area of focus is education, she said. "One of the things we're really excited about is the scholarship committee. "We want to know where to put our money as far as scholarships are concerned and how experts feel about the problems of drug abuse. "So we've discussed plans on the allocation of funds with drug and alcohol professionals,'' said Mrs. Lines, adding that managing director of the Bermuda Commercial Bank Mrs. Audette Exel has agreed to chair the scholarship committee.

CADA educates by providing scholarships for Bermudians to obtain training in the field of alcohol and drug abuse.

And CADA plans to assign more money to the scholarship budget and set criteria for interested applicants in the coming year.

"One of the new requirements for scholarship recipients is that they must donate one hour of community service to CADA for every $100 dollars that they are awarded,'' said Mrs. Lines.

CADA also advocates on behalf of the community to help reduce the social, emotional and financial costs associated with alcohol and drug abuse."We advocate through discussion, presentations, communications and direct action,'' said Mr. Johnson.

"We are confident that the programmes offered by the agencies of The Council Partners will help create a community of informed advocates with the skills to intervene in behaviour that allow alcohol and drug abuse-related violence to threaten our selves, our families and the community.'' CADA is developing a Community Forum series among professionals centred on presentations and discussions of the most current information about substance abuse treatment and prevention.

"It will help professionals find a common goal and keep abreast of the latest information in the field,'' noted Mrs. Lines.

CADA is also planning a national conference in January or February of next year for the purpose of presenting the most effective information available with regards to substance abuse, she said.

Another objective of CADA in the coming year is to set up data bases for the five agencies associated with The Council Partners.

"CADA already has an excellent data base -- thanks to Mr. Greg Peters, who has been invaluable in setting up our software and event programmes,'' said Mrs. Lines. "And we want to help the other organisations set up data bases and programmes where needed.'' Mrs. Lines, who is also the co-vice chairman of The Council Partners and a member of the Board of the NDC as well as Fair Havens said: "All of the agencies work closely together. We help each other wherever we can. And it's so exciting because there are always new ideas and suggestions coming forward.'' She added that CADA accounts for how it progresses with each objective to ensure that each plan materialises and is realised.

"I think this community will see a dramatic improvement when it comes to alcohol and drug abuse and violence and crime in the next few years,'' she said.

THE COUNCIL PARTNERS -- An alliance of five agencies, which includes Fair Havens, Focus, Lions Quest, PRIDE and CADA, The Council Partners came together to raise funds to finance their drug and alcohol programmes. (From left) Chairman Mrs. Kathy Watson, Co-vice chairman Mrs. Susan Butterfield, Secretary Mrs. Pauline Richards and Executive director Mr. Gordon Johnson were the leaders behind the fund-raising campaign. Missing is Co-vice chairman Mrs.

Janine Lines.

CADA CHAIRMAN -- Mrs. Janine Lines