A new survey has been launched to try and measure drug use in Bermuda.

The Drug Consumption Survey is being conducted by the the Department for National Drug Control (DNDC) and the Department of Statistics and its goal is to collect current information about drug use by people aged over 16.

The survey will also assess perceptions and attitudes towards specific characteristics of drugs and drug use.

Relevant information for combatting drug use such as drug consumption patterns, perceptions of harm from using drugs, characteristics of social environments that support drug use and the perceived availability of drugs in Bermuda, will be made available through the survey.

It will also collect information regarding the dynamics of alcohol and tobacco use, frequency of daily consumption, ease of access to drugs and perceptions of drug use risk.

While 4,000 households were sent postcards informing them of the survey, a sample of 1,500 households will be contacted through telephone interviews by the Department of Statistics.

"We want to encourage the public's cooperation and participation in this important survey," said Joanne Dean, the new director for the DNDC.

According to Ms Dean it is has been ten years since a similar survey was conducted.

"This kind of data helps us to make informed decisions about drug policies," said a spokesperson for the DNDC.

"It is of paramount importance that the selected households cooperate with the survey interviewers when called on."

The survey will run this month.