[ OUR OPINION ]

Groups should address
broad drug strategy

THE ISSUE The Lingle administration is planning a conference of interested groups to help develop a plan to combat crystal methamphetamine.

LT. Gov. Duke Aiona is organizing a major conference this summer to develop a strategy for fighting the use of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," an illicit drug that has plagued Hawaii for years. The conference should not be limited to crystal meth. Participants need to consider a broad range of approaches to the islands' drug problems as they affect different segments of society.

Aiona, a former state Drug Court judge, is a strong proponent of substance-abuse treatment instead of incarceration for many drug offenders, an essential ingredient in any strategy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo says crystal meth is Hawaii's most serious health problem, estimating that 30,000 Honolulu residents are hard-core users.

New findings by the Justice Department show that Honolulu, for the third year in a row, had the highest percentage among 36 metropolitan areas of arrested males testing positive for ice -- 44.8 percent from January to September of last year, up from 37.4 percent in 2001. The percentage was far above the 33.5 percent of second-place Sacramento, Calif.

Those new figures follow studies conducted by the state Department of Health showing that the percentage of high school seniors who reported having tried methamphetamine has gradually decreased from 11.7 percent in 1989 to 5.3 percent last year. While ice usage has been growing among adults, young people seem to have turned to a cousin of crystal meth. The studies showed the use of Ecstasy among seniors rose from 5.3 percent five years ago to 10.6 percent last year.

The use of both of these drugs is of growing concern in Hawaii. The Bush administration seems addicted to the old war against "reefer madness," although rates of marijuana use are the lowest in 19 years. Fortunately, a House committee has rejected a proposal supported by the White House that would shift federal drug-enforcement money from state and local police departments in Hawaii and other states that have legalized marijuana for medical use.

Also, a federal judge in California on Thursday sentenced a grower of marijuana for medical purposes to a single day in jail and a $1,000 fine, the lowest penalty under the law. A spokesman for the Drug Enforcement Agency said the sentence would not deter the agency from aggressively pursuing prosecution of medical marijuana growers, even though they are in compliance with state laws.

Operation Green Harvest, a state and county program from 1976 through the 1990s aimed at eradicating marijuana production on the Big Island, is blamed by some for causing drug users to turn to hard drugs. Crystal meth production, achieved with a high school chemistry kit -- a Bunsen burner, beakers and household chemicals -- is easier to conceal. The Hawaii County Council stopped the program three years ago, turning back federal money.