Methamphetamine

Our ability to improve the quality of life for the people of Hawai‘i is dependent upon the decisions we make to strengthen our families. Families form the core of our society, and our sense of ‘ohana and togetherness is what sets us apart from others.

However, the use of crystal methamphetamine and other illicit drugs is a destructive force that can tear apart our families and risk the future of our children.

In 2002, when Gov. Lingle and I were first elected to office, our families were under threat from widespread “ice” use across our state, and the problem was growing at an alarming rate.

We took immediate and comprehensive action, with federal, state and local stakeholders pulling together to solve this pervasive drug problem. In 2005, our administration launched the Hawai‘i Drug Control Plan, which took a three-pronged approach to control illicit drug use in our state: prevention, enforcement and treatment.

This continues to be the approach we use today, and evidence shows our efforts are paying off.

Ice seizures have dropped by 30 percent since 2005. And the number of meth labs discovered in the state has fallen from 17 in 2005 to zero last year, due in large part to new laws our administration supported to limit the availability of pseudoephedrine, a precursor chemical of meth.

Meth is now harder to obtain, less pure and significantly higher in price.

There also has been a drop in treatment admissions for ice, from 3,538 admissions in 2005 to 2,967 in 2008. 

Last month, Hawai‘i earned national recognition for the gains made by residents recovering from addiction to ice and other substances. More than 2,100 people with substance abuse problems have received help through our Access to Recovery program since the pilot project started in June 2008. This innovative initiative provides those in recovery with vital support services such as housing assistance, child care, transportation, and even spiritual counseling.

Next month, the governor and I will proclaim September as Recovery Month in Hawai‘i to encourage our residents to get involved and help those on the path to recovery.

The least publicized but most effective and cost-efficient strategy in any long-term drug control effort is prevention. In 2006, we secured $11 million from the federal government to bring together the state, counties and communities to develop and implement a coordinated, needs-based, data-driven substance abuse prevention strategy.

Our prevention efforts, which emphasize the need to change societal norms, attitudes and behaviors about illicit drug use and alcohol consumption, are working. Youth drug use and underage drinking rates in Hawai‘i have steadily declined. Alcohol use, binge drinking, marijuana use and cocaine use among our high school students are at their lowest levels in more than 12 years. Meth use by young people also has dropped. And recently a new privately funded initiative, the Hawai‘i Meth Project, has been launched to help prevent our youth from ever trying meth.

While we have seen significant progress in our efforts to curb illicit drug use in our communities, I want to be clear that this effort is ongoing. Success is dependent upon our continued vigilance and the support and collaboration of public officials at all levels, private agencies and communities at large.

Given the national and global economic downturn, residents who are down on their luck may consider turning to illicit drug use. As family members, friends and community leaders, we must keep these good people from making bad decisions.

Controlling illicit drugs is everyone’s responsibility, and together, we can strengthen our families, improve our communities and move our state beyond the influence of illicit drugs.

• James ‘Duke’ Aiona Jr. is the Republican lieutenant governor of Hawai‘i.