DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM
After announcing plans yesterday to convene a drug summit in September, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona Jr., left, talked with state Reps. Guy Ontai, Galen Fox and Brian Blundell.
Summit to address
‘ice’ epidemicLt. Gov. Aiona wants to provide
officials and the community
with a forum on drugs'Ice' denounced for role in fatal crash
Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona says the "ice" epidemic, existing for more than a decade in Hawaii, has touched enough people in so many different ways that they are taking action to stop it.
Aiona announced yesterday that a drug summit that will focus on the soaring use of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," is scheduled for Sept. 17-18.
Although the focus of the summit is expected to be ice, other drugs -- such as alcohol, marijuana and cocaine -- will also be discussed.
The summit's goal is to create a working document that describes in detail how the state plans to mitigate and relieve its substance abuse problems, most notably Hawaii's No. 1 ranking as having the worst ice problem in the country.
Aiona, point man in the Lingle administration on substance abuse and crime, said the upcoming summit, titled Hawaii Drug Control Strategy: A New Beginning, provides a forum for government officials and the community to improve the quality of life in the state by reducing the use of illicit drugs.
He said an outline for the conference should be ready by July 3.
Aiona likened today's ice situation to cigarette smoking in the 1960s and 1970s; there was not much public outcry during that time, and it was only after people realized the harmful affects of smoking that it become a major public health issue.
"Our communities are speaking up that they will not sit back and tolerate substance abuse among our children or the harmful impact it is having on our families and neighborhoods," Aiona said.
U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo, a member of the conference's steering community, said the event is a comprehensive approach to an issue that has gotten the public's attention, based on community meetings he has attended.
Kubo was so encouraged by Aiona's plans that he canceled his own for a similar conference in August and will instead consolidate the federal efforts with the state.
Aiona said one of the possible outcomes of the summit is drug treatment centers.
He said he has met with at least seven private companies interested in creating a possible drug rehabilitation or treatment center in Hawaii.
One unnamed group in particular, he said, is already in the planning stages of developing a facility for an offender-based treatment program.
"I'm hoping those corporations and those industries will step forward and see the need we have in this community for those types of physical plants or facilities, and know that Hawaii will be able to support them," said Aiona, who did not elaborate on the plan.
Aiona said between 200 and 500 people are expected to participate in the conference.
Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor said this conference and plans by state legislators to study the ice issue this fall compliment each other.
Earlier this week, legislative leaders announced the formation of a House-Senate Ice Committee to come up with proposed legislation for next session.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
State of Hawaii
