proposal for a National Drug Strategy, Hamilton Lions were told yesterday.

Mr. Gordon Johnson, the council's executive director, said the 19-year-old body was putting more emphasis on partnerships as it publicly addressed the issues of alcohol and drug abuse.

The change was in keeping with the recommendations of Dr. David Archibald, who reported to Government in 1991.

As an example, the council this year worked with the Bermuda Track and Field Association on the ADT 10-kilometre Fitness Walk. The walk raised more than $6,000 to be shared between the two groups, he said.

The council also teamed up with the Bank of Butterfield to bring Olympic silver medallist Ms Angela Bailey to the Island to promote a drug-free lifestyle among Bermuda athletes.

Talks had begun with the National Drug Commission and Fairhavens, the community treatment centre for women, about partnerships with them, he said.

Programmes could be amalgamated, or jointly developed, funded, and managed, Mr. Johnson said in an interview after his speech.

"It's just a matter of assessing who is best to manage what programme,'' he said. "We need to have a clear concept of who we are and what we do best, and then hand off what we don't do best to those who do it better.

"Partnerships are all about giving it away,'' he said. "We feel comfortable pursuing partnerships recognising that we all will have to give up some authority ... we will raise expectations in the community, and we are inviting change and perhaps criticism.'' The council recently developed a mission statement and was emphasising education, facilitation and advocacy, he said.

Mr. Gordon Johnson.