The county will host well-known speakers next month to talk about current drug trends and to provide strategies on how to deal with substance abuse. Co-sponsored by the Anti-Drug Program and Leadership Kaua‘i, the second seminar in the Kaua‘i Community
The county will host well-known speakers next month to talk about current drug trends and to provide strategies on how to deal with substance abuse.
Co-sponsored by the Anti-Drug Program and Leadership Kaua‘i, the second seminar in the Kaua‘i Community Drug Awareness Speaker Series is scheduled for Feb. 6 at the Kaua‘i War Memorial Convention Hall.
Participants will be able to stop by information tables set up by various organizations that provide drug prevention and treatment services, from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the drug awareness presentation to follow.
The event will feature Detective Mark Middleton from the Martin County Sheriff’s Department in Florida, Thomas Janette and Scott Duva, Connecticut Narcotic Enforcement Officer’s Association, and Gary Shimabukuro, president of Laulima Hawai‘i LLC.
“The panelists are experts in the field of drug prevention, and have given numerous presentations around the country,” Theresa Koki, the county’s anti-drug coordinator, said in a press release.
Middleton has been in law enforcement for 20 years and has been involved in many facets of police work, including DARE and GREAT programs, school resource office, road patrol and corrections. Currently he is assigned to the juvenile crime unit.
Since 1993, Middleton has made numerous presentations across the Mainland on drug trends, the influence of music on today’s youth and Internet safety.
Shimabukuro is president of Laulima Hawai‘i, an organization that is committed to helping to create a drug free environment in businesses, communities and families.
Over the last 20 years, Shimabukuro has provided Drug Free Workplace training for approximately 200,000 people throughout Hawai‘i, Alaska, California, Guam, Saipan, Palau, Australia and New Zealand. He has also conducted many drug prevention seminars on a volunteer basis for youth groups, teachers, parents, churches and community organizations.
Janette serves as the director of the Connecticut Narcotic Enforcement Officers Association. He has been featured on award-winning prevention and substance abuse videos.
Duva is a law enforcement officer in Connecticut. He works closely with Janette on prevention and substance abuse programs.
The Kaua‘i Community Drug Awareness Speaker Series was developed by a Leadership Kaua‘i group called “The Challengers.”
The group’s mission is to support the community and families who are vulnerable to the onslaught of drugs by providing specific drug awareness and education.
