In an effort to increase awareness about the destructive cycle of addiction from both alcohol and drugs, the county’s Anti-Drug office and the Hawai‘i National Guard are hosting a free health and wellness fair today. The event is part of
In an effort to increase awareness about the destructive cycle of addiction from both alcohol and drugs, the county’s Anti-Drug office and the Hawai‘i National Guard are hosting a free health and wellness fair today.
The event is part of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month for the purpose of underscoring people’s commitment to stop alcohol and drug abuse before it starts.
As part of the celebration, the public is invited to view the more than 30 vendors who will have informational exhibits spread out through the Lihu‘e Civic Center breezeway as well as in the public areas of the adjoining Pi‘ikoi Building from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Blood pressure checks, recovery assistance and other health screenings will also be available.
Information on prevention, addiction, enforcement and treatment recovery assistance will also be available.
Other participating agencies will be offering information on choosing a healthy lifestyle, warning signs and consequences of alcohol and drug abuse, elderly abuse, the dangers of mixing medications, and more.
Alcohol and drug addiction can ruin lives and devastate families, states a proclamation issued by Kaua‘i Mayor Bryan Baptiste to Theresa Koki of the anti-drug office.
In the proclamation, the mayor encourages people to work toward a society which citizens can lead lives free from the influence of alcohol and drugs.
“Join the Voices for Recovery: Saving Lives, Saving Dollars,” is the theme for this year’s National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and the mayor and anti-drug office staff encourage Americans to recognize the cost of substance abuse disorders and understand the benefits that treatment can bring to those individuals, their families and communities.
The Drug Enforcement Agency is helping stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States by targeting the production, distribution and sale of methamphetamines and other precursor drugs, the proclamation said.
Drug Free Communities Program helps neighborhoods develop strategies to prevent substance abuse.
For more information on the health fair, call Koki at 241-6312, or better yet, just show up — it’s free!
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
