honoured yesterday in a ceremony at City Hall.

The Ministry and the National Alcohol and Drug Agency (NADA) sponsored the event to commemorate the United Nations proclaiming the day International Day Against Drug Abuse.

Chief Medical Officer Dr. John Cann began by speaking about the struggle to combat drug and alcohol abuse in Bermuda.

"It is a multi-faceted problem that affects the whole community,'' he said.

"We must encourage and thank these people for having the courage to take on this problem.'' Mrs. Margaret Swan, the mother of Premier the Hon. Sir John Swan, and member of The Misuse of Drugs Advisory Board, presented Mr. Bryant Richards, a long-time counsellor at Addiction Services, with a plaque to honour his efforts in the field of drug intervention.

Health and Social Services Minister the Hon. Quinton Edness awarded the certificates of appreciation to outstanding individuals involved in counselling.

Mr. Colin Adams, Dr. Vincent Bridgewater, Mrs. Cherie Churm, Mr. Llewellyn Gomes, Mrs. Linda McAlpine, Mr. Gryneth Robinson, Mr. William Scott, Mr.

Charles Trott and Mr. Charles Williams of Addiction Services received certificates.

From the Montrose Substance Abuse Centre Mrs. Sandra Butterfield, Mrs. Joanne Dill, Mrs. Fiona Elkinson, Mrs. Cecile Harris Goodman, Mrs. Susie Gibbons, Mrs. Barnhill Hinson, Mr. Edward Richardson, Mr. Scotty Richardson, Mrs.

Yvette Smith and Mr. Braxton Todd were honoured for their work.

Mrs. Cynthia Ebbin, Dr. Sandy Patton and Mr. Michael Stowe from the National Drug Strategy and Mrs. Jean Kelly, Miss Althea Overby and Mrs. Shavanna Wilson from NADA were also recognised.

Members of the Ministry awarded certificates to organisations for their work in battling drug and alcohol abuse. The groups honoured for their effort were Ashton Associates, Benedict Associates, the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Employee Assistance Programme of Bermuda, Friswell's Hill United, Ord Road & Spring Hill Against Drugs (ORSHAD), the Paget Counselling Centre, the Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE), the Salvation Army Harbour Light Programme, Sandys Against Drugs (SAD), Support Therapy for Aids Patients and their Relatives (STAR), Tough Love, Transitions, and Youth to Youth.