States because of a new ruling banning drug users.

US Immigration officials have ruled that known drug users or addicts should be placed on a stop list.

The list previously included people with drug convictions only.

And Bermuda's drug clinics have already stopped referring patients to US rehabilitation centres because of the new guidelines.

The National Drug Commission learned of the rule changes two months ago and stopped referring patients to the US.

Acting chief executive officer Dr. Derrick Binns told The Royal Gazette that at least 5,000 Bermudians could now be affected.

He said: "The last official figure was around 2,000 Bermudians on the stop list.

"But if we take into account known drug users, there could be at least 5,000 Bermudians banned from travelling to the United States.

"We do not want to get involved in politics and the Americans are well within their rights to decide who they want in their country. But we would like the situation clarified exactly so we know where we can refer our patients.'' He added that most users were now being sent to clinics in Canada.

And he said National Drug Commission boss Mansfield (Jimmy) Brock was arranging meetings with US Consulate and Immigration officials to discuss the new rules.

Education Minister Jerome Dill, also responsible for Human Affairs, said Government was trying to discover if the new guidelines represented a "law or a policy''.

Mr. Dill said: "I have met personally with the outgoing US Consul General, Robert Farmer, about this matter and we are trying to find ways of keeping Bermudians off the stop list.

"We don't want Bermuda to become a prison. But what we still have to determine is if the new rule is a law or simply an immigration policy. That is not actually clear.

"The US Government has the right to admit who it wants and what we have to do is make sure we have the right facilities available so drug users can be treated on the Island.

"We are already implementing recommendations set out by Judge Stephen Tumim to improve our own war on drugs and that will, in turn, keep Bermudians off the list.'' He said Government had already unveiled its plans for a drug court to deal with first-time offenders.

The Minister added: "That should come into effect early next year and it will give defendants the option of going into voluntary treatment instead of facing conviction.

"Procedures and policies have also been improved and upgraded at Addiction Services in Hamilton so more drug users can be treated. The entire operation has been made more efficient.

"And the Bermudian Youth Counselling Service has just been introduced to give advice and treatment to school-age children who may have an alcohol or drug problem.'' He said the new Aftercare Programme at the Salvation Army's Hamilton Citadel on North Street would also boost rehabilitation services in Bermuda.

Mr. Dill added: "The bottom line is that we want to send fewer people to the United States for treatment. That way it won't matter what the stop list guidelines are.'' DRUGS DGS