message.

Sen. Jerome Dill told Hamilton Rotarians this week that figures showed that drug abuse could start in children as young as 10 years old. And the Parliamentary Secretary for Health explained the huge amount of work in schools now aimed at tackling the problem.

He also expressed excitement at the new network of parish agencies being set up to combat the drugs problem. And he stressed the work being done in schools under the Skills for Adolescents programme and the Peer Helpers' Programme.

The first scheme is aimed at teaching youngsters how to be more responsible and has already been introduced to most primary schools on the Island.

The Peer Helpers' Scheme already has 29 youngsters who are trained to provide role models in a pilot scheme at Berkeley Institute, Warwick Academy and Whitney Institute.

Sen. Dill said: "Schools were asked to pick out exemplary students and ask them to volunteer their services.

"They were spoken to by local professionals about AIDS, drug abuse and teenage pregnancies. They are then available in their schools for other pupils.'' Sen. Dill is pleased that new parish groups will be formed to answer to the overall National Drug Strategy. He said the groups will be split into committees covering drugs, crime, business and youth.

"We have 60,000 residents in Bermuda and 40 members of the lower house, which is an enviable ratio comparing it to the rest of the world.

"We are trying to bring that view when dealing with our drug problem. About 150 people in each and every parish will be involved in dealing with important problems.''