Posted on: Friday, July 30, 2004

Drug policy panel to hold meetings on Maui, Big Island

Advertiser Staff

KEALAKEHE, Hawai'i — A congressional subcommittee that deals with U.S. drug policy will visit the Big Island and Maui next week.

A hearing titled "The Poisoning of Paradise: Crystal Methamphetamine in Hawai'i" will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at the Kealakehe Intermediate School cafeteria in Kona.

The problem of crystal methamphetamine use is considered to be particularly acute on the Big Island, which was the site of one of four national "ice summits" in August 2002.

During Monday's meeting, invited law enforcement officials and experts in the treatment and prevention of methamphetamine addiction will testify, according to an announcement from U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-Ind., chairman of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources.

U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawai'i, Lt. Gov. James Aiona and Hawai'i County Mayor Harry Kim also will attend.

The subcommittee will be on Maui from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday to visit the Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center in Wailuku.

Public testimony will not be accepted at the hearing, however, anyone wishing to submit comments may e-mail them to Case at ed.case@mail.house.gov, or fax to his Honolulu office at 538-0233.