Summit outlines Hawai'i's drug war
By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Big Island Bureau
When the Hawai'i Drug Control Strategy Summit begins this morning in Waikiki, a single word will be foremost in the minds of many of the participants: Money.
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The summit, to be convened by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, is being watched for hints at how committed Gov. Linda Lingle's administration is to a large-scale response to the drug problem, particularly the use of crystal methamphetamine, or ice.
The summit will be convened by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.
Like most states, Hawai'i has tinkered with its drug laws over the years, imposing minimum sentences for ice offenses in 1996, and then mandating treatment instead of prison for first-time drug offenders last year.
Now law enforcement authorities and treatment experts alike are calling for a balanced approach to prevent drug use and to cope with addiction when it does occur. That will require drug treatment, enforcement and education, they say.
The question that remains is where the money will come from for new drug-fighting initiatives.
"Everybody's ready to move, but it all comes down to how we're going to pay for it," said Billy Kenoi, executive assistant to Big Island Mayor Harry Kim. Kenoi has been the point person in Kim's "war" on ice use for almost three years.
"We have the communities mobilized. Everybody understands the problem because everybody is affected by this drug in some way, shape or form. We have state and county agencies recognizing the impact of this drug on our community," Kenoi said. "What we need is a commitment of resources."
In a series of "talk story" sessions around the state, Aiona outlined a Hawai'i Drug Control Strategy that was heavy on philosophy and objectives, but light on specifics.
The strategy has a stated goal of reducing adult and juvenile illegal drug use by 10 percent over three years, and also aims for a 10 percent reduction in adult-offender recidivism.
To do this, Aiona proposed an anti-drug media campaign, an increase in drug-prevention efforts, and making more treatment programs available for both prisoners and the general public.
Judging from various hearings and meetings on the drug problem held around the state this year, few would quarrel with those plans. But their scope and reach will depend on how much money is devoted to the effort.
Aiona reported that many of the 400 summit participants said in a pre-summit survey that a lack of money is the No. 1 barrier to anti-drug efforts in Hawai'i. And Aiona agrees that more money would help. But he said there needs to be a better assessment of what already is being done and of how anti-drug money is being spent.
"We really don't know how much resources we have out there, where they overlap, where they duplicate and everything else, because there hasn't been real good coordination between the (state) departments," he said.
He also said there needs to be more attention paid to non-government resources such as privately owned land, buildings and other types of facilities that can be used in the anti-drug effort.
On the issue of whether there is likely to be a big infusion of state money to deal with the problem, "if you're talking about $100 million, the answer is no," Aiona said.
"But, of course, the governor and I are committed to, if we need to, infuse more money. But before we're going to do that, we're going to be very certain that we know exactly where that money is going and what needs it's going to meet, how it's going to be spent and what benefits we're going to get out of it," he said.
Kat Brady, coordinator of the Community Alliance on Prisons, said that state and county government spending on the drug problem has been skewed heavily toward arresting and imprisoning users. She said she is worried that is likely to continue.
"I feel like right now the state is focused more on demonizing drug users rather than helping them. That has not been a helpful strategy. It's expensive, and it obviously has not had much of an impact, since drug use is rising," said Brady, who lobbied the Legislature last year for the new law mandating treatment instead of prison for first-time drug offenders.
"Realistically, I see them coming out for more support for law enforcement, and that is not the answer in my view," she said. "I want to see a 50-50 split.
"I think it's going to be an interesting year, because ice is going to be the burning issue and it's going to be an election year."
Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 935-3916.
