The public was urged yesterday to stand up and stamp out drugs on the Island.

Dale Butler, Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation announced a new campaign as part of the Department for National Drug Control Master Plan and Action Plan. The campaign, which will end in March 2009, will consist of radio and television advertisements, posters and community forums all related to the slogan "Stand Up".

Mr. Butler said: "Our campaign entitled 'Stand Up' calls for each person in the community to stand up and be accountable for the successful reduction in the supply and demand of and for drugs on our Island."

The Department for National Drug Control (DNDC) 2007-2011 Master Plan and Action Plan was released last December. In March they held their first public forum to discuss principles for drug prevention.

Caron Assan, director of the DNDC, says they have held five forums and intend to hold smaller forums geared towards specific groups in Bermuda, including sports clubs and the Portuguese community.

Ms. Assan said: "We are trying to get to each sector of the community."

One of the goals of the Master Plan is to prevent young people from becoming substance abusers. The DNDC introduced its mascot, a frog, which visits schools and speaks to children about the dangers of substance abuse.

Mr. Butler stressed the DNDC's efforts to deter young people from drugs and alcohol and for the youth to "stand up to your friends and refuse to become a drug user".

Although the DNDC is working to implement its five-year Action Plan, Mr. Butler said yesterday that the help of the public was necessary because "the department of seven individuals cannot bring the change to our drug problems".

Other initiatives were introduced, including possible drug counsellors on the Island. Mr. Butler planned to use money from the Confiscated Assets Fund, money taken from convicted drug dealers, to fund these initiatives.