Expanded treatment urged at drug summit

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Expanding substance-abuse treatment, establishing a central body to coordinate anti-drug efforts statewide, and empowering communities were among the suggestions yesterday at the Hawai'i Drug Control Strategy Summit.

As the three-day summit wraps up today, participants will narrow those and other suggestions into "strong recommendations" that are expected to help guide government leaders and others in Hawai'i's fight against drugs.

The summit, spearheaded by Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, drew about 400 participants.

Those attending the summit — representing varied backgrounds including law enforcement, nonprofit providers and politics — broke up into 17 working groups, with each group focusing on one of four categories: drug treatment, law enforcement, community mobilization and prevention.

Expanding drug treatment and creating a single government office to coordinate and be accountable for drug-fighting initiatives appeared to be a common theme. Those calling for more drug treatment emphasized the need for a variety of services that are culturally sensitive and address individual needs, whether it be educational programs or long-term residential treatment.

Some also noted the importance of building prevention and other programs around communities rather than a one-fits-all approach.

There was little mention of where money for more programs should come from, although one group noted alcohol and tobacco taxes. Former Gov. Ben Cayetano had proposed imposing such "sin taxes" to raise money for drug treatment, but the idea was scrapped in the Legislature.

Earlier, some advocates suggested hiring a grant writer to seek public and private money for programs.

A couple of groups said law enforcement needs more authority to prosecute drug offenders, an idea that critics say will infringe on civil liberties. Law-enforcement officials have said state wiretapping laws are too strict and that the state constitution should be amended to allow for activities such as "walk and talks" in which officers question and search suspicious people at the airport, with their consent.

While those attending the summit are pleased that the administration and others are focusing on substance abuse, reports from Monday's breakout discussions indicate that some feel the summit is "window dressing" and that decisions on how to deal with the problem have already been made.

Aiona said he was disappointed by that perception.

"When people say that, I question why they are here in the first place because everyone that we invited had something to contribute," Aiona said. "I'm not going to let that detract me ... and we're going to move forward and I guess if they feel that way then I would just hope they would open their minds a little bit more and continue in the process.

"We are really dependent on what people are going to suggest."

Drug-treatment advocate Kat Brady, of Community Alliance on Prisons, said she was heartened to see that Aiona's drug-control strategy included treatment, "but as we're going through this (summit), I see that this is really the law enforcement's show."

Brady said she sees hope in the administration's focus on drugs, and that she is "cautiously optimistic."

Aiona said there needs to be a balanced approach that includes treatment, law enforcement and prevention.

"There's no slant here, there's none whatsoever," he said. "It's up to them in regards to the recommendations. I'm just bringing them all together and letting them work the process."

Community figures such as the Rev. Bob Nakata of Kahalu'u Methodist Church also talked about strengthening neighborhoods as a way to combat and prevent drug problems.

But Nakata said it will be difficult to mobilize communities if there is no money for drug-abuse treatment and prevention programs and if law-enforcement officials are not given more tools to combat drugs.

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo told participants that everyone has a stake in the outcome.

"It's less a matter of commitment as it is of heart," Kubo said. "And the heart comes in when the community can stand forward and say, 'We are the additional eyes and ears in this community and we're watching.'

"When you turn on the lights the cockroaches will run, and if they know we are watching they will not stay for long."

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.