and illegal drug habits to help assess what the National Drug Commission has labelled "a national crisis''.

The major survey will provide treatment programmes, hospitals and insurers with locally collected information to help tailor treatment programmes.

The Drug Commission claims the information will paint a more precise picture of abuse patterns, risk factors, gender and age and help them to better gauge needs and develop programmes for abuse and addiction.

From June 3, trained interviewers will circulate in the community and distribute, oversee and collect information from a random sample of 1,500 Bermudians.

The survey, which will be in a booklet form and will take 50 minutes to complete, is being carried out by the Bermuda College in conjunction with Development Associates -- a United Nations recommended epidemiologist who will oversee the project. Other alternatives, including a telephone survey, were considered by the Commission but were rejected as being inadequate. Anyone wishing to be recruited as an interviewer should contact Mr. Craig Simmons at Bermuda College 236-9000.