• N. K. Kubach N. K. Kubach Although social service agencies and county officials have the best of intentions for youths and adults recovering from drug and alchohol addiction, the repercussions of the types of facilities proposed by the Hina
• N. K. Kubach
N. K. Kubach
Although social service agencies and county officials have the best of intentions for youths and adults recovering from drug and alchohol addiction, the repercussions of the types of facilities proposed by the Hina Mauka, Hale Opio Kaua‘i inc, YMCA, Calvary Church, etc …have a severely detrimental impact on the community. The Kaua‘i Community Drug Response Plan surely needs to do more investigation into the feasibility of their idea. Recovery success rates of ice and heroin are less than 10%. “Plans” such as these actually give more rights to addicts than to regular hard working citizens contributing to society and paying taxes, the guy next door, who ultimately suffers.
Property values plummet. In some cases more than 50% literally overnight (if it could be sold, but no one wants to live next to a revolving door of addicts and ex-cons, many of whom fail the program, escape, or find a way to use drugs within the facility). Drug use and the “criminal element” go hand in hand and for these recovery organizations to deny this is not naive, it is a blatant lie. They know and won’t talk about it. Anyone living around these types of facilities knows the fear for their loved ones safety. Like living in a minefield, any wrong step could mean disaster. It is impossible to guarantee 100% the behavior of their “at risk” recovering addicts. Who is really at risk? Law abiding families and individuals who work hard to be good citizens and neighbors.
“NIMBY” or in any residential neighborhood. Unfortunately, no matter how thorough the recovery program there will be more failure than success; it’s the nature of the beast. During attempted recovery, behavior by the addicts is unpredictable. Anger, fear, frustration, and physical withdrawal can drive even a recovered addict to aggressive and violent behavior. Despite that these “wonderful, loving and creative” people in recovery, as Mardi Maione refers to them, may ideally have the potential to “ease back into society,” there is nothing easy about beating an addiction. I don’t want my community to live next door or go to a public beach where we can hear the “at risk” screaming threats and expletives as we try to create a safe and nurturing environment to co-exist and raise our kids. Now is the time to look at recovery rates and accept the reality that prevention should be the focus of the efforts and monies. Programs for addicts need to be located in areas where families and properties are not at risk when the recovery process fails. The Garden Island’s article about these efforts was one sided and misleading. Why are efforts made to help people on a bad road, instead of standing up for people who have taken the straight and narrow path only to continually have a bucket of philanthropic nails thrown across their driveway.
N. K. Kubach is a resident of Hanalei
