The head of Bermuda's Youth Counselling Services yesterday warned against seeking quick-fix solutions for high school drug abuse.
In survey results released last week by the National Drug Commission, a majority of young people who used marijuana or alcohol said it was easy to obtain.
But Eudora Browne-Zuill, programme director of the BYCS, said she was not surprised by the numbers.
"Yes, it is easy for many of them to get,'' she said.
"But rather than focus on how easy it is to get, we need to focus on where they are getting it from.
"That's the question we need to ask.'' And she pointed out many young people began experimenting with alcohol at home.
"Most of them will say the first time it was used it was in the presence of a family member,'' she explained. "And the family members don't see a problem with it.'' Mrs. Browne-Zuill said simply looking to new or existing community centres to keep young people away from drugs was not enough.
"The people that are using or experimenting are not the ones going to enjoy such a facility until the chemical abuse is dealt with,'' she said.
And in some cases, community centres themselves became magnets for drug abusers. "There are a couple of community centres around the Island where, when you drive by, you see a group of young people using marijuana.
"We need to figure out a way to reach those people.'' "To take that a step further,'' she continued. "Such a centre that has been mentioned would attract a group of young people that are more focused or centred and that would leave out another segment.'' But one long-term method of encouraging the youth to avoid drugs was through educating the general community of the benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
"To become well adjusted, healthy and successful in school and in life, young people must engage in healthy lifestyle behaviours,'' she said.
And the message could also be more clearly and forcefully be distributed through schools.
"Greater emphasis should be placed on physical education and activity,'' said Mrs. Browne-Zuill.
"It needs to be valued as a subject in school by everyone.
"The focus of physical education programming must be changed from the emphasis on the competitive sport model to one of co-operation, overall fitness, skill and attitude development.'' SURVEY SUR
