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A community movement sparked by two parents of drug-addicted sons has led to the first therapeutic living facility for male substance abusers in North Kohala. Group effort leads to
Big Island drug rehab centerThe North Kohala facility
targets male substance abusersBy Helen Altonn
The momentum started with Nani Svendsen, who runs a bed-and-breakfast and a floral business out of her home, and Dennis Matsuda, with the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation.
They were at a Kamehameha Day celebration meeting about two years ago when they started talking and found they and others there had family members involved with drugs.
"It just made Dennis and I realize it was prevalent out there, because a lot of people aren't talking to each other but keeping their problems to themselves," Svendsen said. "I wanted to help, and I couldn't really help my own son."
Matsuda said they pushed aside the meeting they were there for and instead talked about family drug problems and getting the community to do something.
"Because it's a small community, it's kind of hush-hush ... behind closed doors a lot of time, but it's widespread, like all the communities on the Big Island."
"Nani and Dennis basically just pulled the community together and said, 'What's happening here?'" said Wesley Margheim, operations director for the Big Island Substance Abuse Council.
In partnership with the North Kohala community, the council recently opened the North Kohala Therapeutic Living Program facility for up to eight men. The Legislature provided start-up funds of $300,000 each for 2001-2002.
North Kohala's achievement has triggered town meetings across the Big Island in response to problems with crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," Margheim said.
"The Big Island is many small communities over a large amount of space, and what we're finding is that in order to achieve these types of services, each small community is needing to come together in community meetings."
Svendsen initially worked with Corey Causey of the Family Health Center in Kohala to start a family support group, but said they stopped that project because there were no services in the area. However, they were able to get Narcotics Anonymous into Kohala.
At a community meeting to explore the problems, she said, "People in recovery and still using and wanting to stop showed up. ... So rather than get the families, we got those whom we did not feel we could help."
"We asked them what they needed," Matsuda said. "They focused on a therapeutic center close to home. ... Instead of driving to Kona, they knew where to get drugs. It was easier than to try to get help."
State and county officials turned out for another forum organized by Betsy Cole, then director of Five Mountain Medical Community, to get decision-makers thinking about drug prevention and treatment.
Among those attending was Mayor Harry Kim, who told the group, "You have the power, more than the county can, to make a difference here."
A core group asked Rep. Dwight Takamine (D, North Hilo-Hamakua) for help, and he asked substance abuse experts to go to Kohala and provide resources. He also encouraged the group to ask the Legislature for funding for a treatment center.
The North Kohala Merchants Association provided a $500 grant for travel, and five residents went to Honolulu to lobby for the program.
Svendsen said it was decided to have a facility for men because statistics show male ice addicts commit heavier crimes, but the council hopes to obtain funding to open a women's home next year.
The North Kohala house is the council's fifth therapeutic facility; all others are in East Hawaii. They include two for men, one for women, and one for women on furlough as part of a prison sentence.
There is also a "Moms and Babies" facility in Hilo for women in Child Protective Services with children 5 years old or younger. It houses six women, and each can have two children there at one time.
A resident counselor is staffing the new facility around the clock, seven days a week, supported by outpatient treatment staff to help people "learn life skills they lost in their addiction," Margheim said.
"We combine that with intensive outpatient treatment to provide a kind of package deal," he said, explaining goals usually can be achieved in four months.
"I think this is just one part of trying to get our communities back on their feet and addressing this problem that we have," Matsuda said, noting Svendsen has been going to different communities to speak.