Government's new drug treatment facility is being praised by members of the community who say it is "desperately needed" to combat drug addiction on the Island.

The 'Right Living House' opened in St. George's on Monday is a residential unit for adult, male inmates suffering from drug addiction.

It is expected to begin its rigorous treatment programme before 2010.

According to Prison Commissioner Edward Lamb, many men in custody repeatedly return to jail because of drug addiction.

He said: "This intense programme will provide those in our custody with the opportunity to rid themselves of their addictions and ultimately, change their lifestyles such that they will not relapse into a life of drug use. This type of programme is desperately needed because the ravages of drugs have taken a dreadful toll on the social and moral well-being of our Country."

According to Lt. Col. Lamb, the programme will help those "taken" from the community become contributing members of society.

"Drug addiction has caused many otherwise decent men to resort to destructive means to support their habits and this has had a tremendous negative impact on our community," he said. "Once free from their addictions, not only will former addicts not be engaging in heinous activities, they will conversely, be empowered to take their rightful places as productive fathers, sons, grandfathers etc.

"This will ultimately benefit families who may have been bereft of the positive influence of a father or husband, etc. because of drug addiction.

"With fewer addicts, this could mean a reduction in crime, an increase of productivity, less reliance on foreign workers, healthier families which are the core of any society. The list is endless. Basically, there will be less people getting high on substances and more people getting high on 'life'."

Sheelagh Cooper of charity Coalition for the Protection of Children, believes treatment is the best way to deal with drug addictions plaguing the Island and was pleased to hear of Government's efforts.

She said: "I think that any expansion of the drug treatment capacity in Bermuda is a good thing because we are very underserved. There are far more addicts than drug treatment facilities that can accommodate them.

"We need to do something different about the drug situation. If we do the same thing we will get the same result."

It is also important to ask what it is about the community that leads people to medicate themselves to the point of becoming addicted, Mrs. Cooper added.

She said there are predisposing factors such as abuse in childhood, and statistics suggest that 80 percent of female addicts were sexually abused as children.

"It's pretty staggering," Mrs. Cooper said.

"I am very pleased to hear there is some attention being paid to treatment. It is so important. It's the front line of defence against drug use in the community. That's the best way to deal with the problem by treating those addicts."