Primary schools could soon be taking part in a survey on drug use, a weekend conference was told.

And later this year every high school student will be asked to answer questions on drug use during an Island-wide survey.

Dr. Derrick Binns, of the National Drug Commission, was speaking to the 11th annual Parent Resource Institute for Drug Education's (PRIDE) conference.

He recently joined the NDC to conduct in-depth surveys to discover the true extent of Bermuda's drug problem.

"Many claims that people make are based on their own opinion and historical anecdotes.

"When we try to make national planning decisions based on anecdotes we do not always come up with the best programme,'' he told the conference.

Dr. Binns added that the NDC was planning several initiatives over the next few years.

A high school drug survey is due to take place in October and a new adult survey should be completed next year.

"Every single high school student will be taking part for the first time,'' he said.

"We are getting information on every single high school student in school on that day. Most surveys are based on a sample, but this is a total population survey.'' It is also hoped to link up with the criminal justice system and the hospitals to compile figures on how many arrests or convictions are drug related and how much hospital treatment is drug related.

The NDC hopes to be able to increase the frequency of surveys from every three years to every year and extend surveys to the primary schools.

Dr. Binns said research suggested that children are beginning to experiment with drugs at a very early age and he said he hoped the primary school surveys could begin in 1999.

Surveys conducted by the NDC show that 87.7 percent of the adult population has tried alcohol at least once, 72.5 percent have tried cigarettes at least once and 41 percent have tried marijuana at least once.

For high school students, 72 percent admitted trying alcohol at least once, 43 percent cigarettes and 28 percent admitted trying marijuana at least once.

Dr. Binns added: "The real key to me is prevention. We can use the data for prevention and a lot of this information will be used for prevention purposes, not just treatment.'' The PRIDE conference was held at the Sonesta Hotel and attracted a host of local as well as international speakers, including the CEO and President of the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America, James Copple.

He urged PRIDE to get the type of people involved who could cause change to be made such as people involved in churches, the criminal justice system, the media, business and Government.

"The real goal is to talk through ways in which we can get more people engaged in this issue and increase participation in our respective missions.

"If we really want change to take place around substance abuse we will have to have different sectors involved in the issue.

"The problem of drug abuse is invasive and it touches every one of our lives.

"If PRIDE is to have any impact you must have a wide cross-section of people involved in your effort. It cannot just be parents and schools. It has to be every one of these sectors,'' he said.

Last night PRIDE chairwoman Belinda Woolridge said the conference had gone well, although she was disappointed at the number of people attending.

She also revealed that PRIDE was already trying to do what Mr. Copple suggested and was in talks with other drug-fighting organisations such as the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

"We are looking at doing some coalition building with other agencies and possibly shifting our focus by looking at our involvement with other groups,'' said Miss Woolridge, who said the organisations came under the Council Partners Trust umbrella.

The influence of at least one significant positive adult in a child's life, a sense of control and a willingness to give selflessly, were essential to keeping kids away from drugs and violence, the conference heard on Friday night. James Copple, president and chief executive officer of Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, said drug abuse was increasing.

The drug culture was part of young people's entertainment through television and music videos. But the negative influences were compounded by the conflicting messages they often got from adults.

Consequently, the anti-drug message was not reaching young people.

"Every young person who steps into the clutches and the power of addiction is a young person that we are responsible for,'' he continued. "We cannot avoid it. We cannot ignore it. We must bear that responsibility.'' "We have to look at every child as a potential child of success and hope ... this requires a spirit of courage. Being involved in this issue is not for the faint of heart.

"It's not for those who will be weakened by failure or disappointment because addiction and drug abuse is such a powerful thing you will make two steps forward and then take one step back.

"But we must continue to engage in this issue. We must never quit and we must never surrender.''