Efforts focus on keeping kids out of trouble Fighting the war on drugs is an expensive proposition. This seems to be better understood on Kaua’i than on the other Hawaiian Islands. According to a national study released in late January,
Efforts focus on keeping kids out of trouble
Fighting the war on drugs is an expensive proposition. This seems to be better understood on Kaua’i than on the other Hawaiian Islands.
According to a national study released in late January, only four cents of every dollar spent by state governments on drug abuse is dedicated to prevention and treatment programs nationwide.
In Hawai’i, according to Sharon Agnew, Kaua’i County’s Youth Programs coordinator, it’s even worse. Only one penny per dollar is going to drug prevention efforts.
But on Kaua’i, grant money for fighting substance abuse is rolling in.
“Hundreds of thousands of dollars are being spent to keep young people off drugs and in healthy activities,” Mayor Maryanne Kusaka said.
Agnew said she has concentrated on rounding up grants and funding while helping mobilize community groups to work in their own districts.
“The Kawaihau District Leadership Coalition is a perfect example of communities taking charge of the situation,” Kusaka said.
That group has so far received $275,000 in Drug Free Community Support grant funds and almost as much funding in matching grants.
A community coalition in Waimea is poised to receive similar grants, according to Agnew.
“All you need is a desire to reduce juvenile crime and drug abuse and a core group of dedicated volunteers,” Agnew said.
She said there is much work involved in coalition-building.
“It takes lots of education, training and support from various sectors of a community to build a coalition. We have been in the process for more than four years in the Kawaihau district, and they see the benefits. It’s easy to apply for additional funds when the framework (of a five-year plan) is in place,” Agnew said.
She also pointed out that the money raised on Kaua’i helps across the entire state.
“Kids and parents on Maui, the Big Island and Oahu are exposed to drug-free commercials every day thanks to funding provided by the Kawaihau Coalition,” she said.
The coalition’s plans for this year include drug prevention training for civic clubs, churches and youth organizations. Already, coaches acting as mentors under the auspices of the district have reached 4,000 youths with anti-drug messages.
And the Youth Advisory Board is also more active. National surveys show youthful peers have a much stronger influence on at-risk youth than adults do.
The Kawaihau District stretches from Wailua to Aliomanu in the Kapa’a area.
“When you get the right person working with communities that truly want to make a change, you can make a pretty big difference,” Kusaka said.
Anti-drug info
Additional information on drug abuse prevention is available through Kaua’i County’s Youth Programs office at 241-62400.
Staff writer Dennis Wilken can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) and mailto:dwilken@pulitzer.net
