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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Thursday, January 6, 2005

Anti-drug plan getting $3 million

By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Gov. Linda Lingle released nearly $3 million yesterday to fight drug abuse, which was most, but not all, of the money she had been withholding from a $14.7 million anti-drug package approved by the state Legislature last session despite her reservations.

What it includes

The money released yesterday includes $1.3 million for adolescent drug treatment and $400,000 to counties for grassroots anti-drug campaigns, which will be matched by county funds. It also includes:

• $400,000 to counties for community-based substance abuse programs

• $430,000 to the Big Island for community adolescent drug prevention

• $200,000 to pay for three state health workers to collect data and study treatment programs

• $100,000 for a treatment program at Waiawa Correctional Facility

• $50,000 to help former inmates stay drug free

Lingle has released the money in installments over the first six months of the fiscal year, which began last July, initially waiting for state revenue projections and then for her administration to review whether the treatment programs were effective.

The governor said yesterday that, "based on their exhaustive due diligence, I can make this announcement today with a great deal of confidence."

Democratic lawmakers, some as late as yesterday morning, had criticized the governor for not releasing all of the money. Some drug-treatment providers had also asked the governor for the money.

"I think any time we can provide additional resources, it's helpful," said state Rep. Dwight Takamine, D-1st (N. Hilo, Hamakua, N. Kohala), the chairman of the House Finance Committee.

Takamine, at a budget briefing in December and again yesterday morning, publicly questioned why the Lingle administration had not released the money. In an interview later, Takamine said the delays could have set back some of the treatment efforts, particularly those tied to students at public schools.

"How many have we lost?" Takamine asked.

Lingle has released $14.1 million for the package, and said yesterday that she will withhold the remaining $600,000 because it is for items that are either duplicative or not directly tied to drug control.

Earlier, the administration had released money for drug courts on the Neighbor Islands and adult and school-based treatment and prevention programs.

The Legislature's anti-drug package came in two parts, one that strengthened criminal penalties and another providing money for treatment and prevention, mostly targeting the use of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice."

Lingle vetoed the law enforcement portion, arguing that it did not go far enough, but her veto was overriden by lawmakers. The governor allowed the prevention measure to become law without her signature, but used her discretion over spending to decide when the money was released.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.