[ OUR OPINION ]

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Documentaries
capture horror
of meth problem

THE ISSUE The second hour-long documentary of Hawaii's crystal methamphetamine problem was telecast by several TV stations.

THE statistics are somber, but the human face of Hawaii's crystal methamphetamine epidemic is frightening. Television viewers received a glimpse of the problem last night in the second hour-long episode of Hawaii's "ice" problem simulcast by Honolulu television stations. Such presentations are a vital element of the battle against meth, deserving of yet another encore.

If the 400 teens who previewed the film Monday night at Ward Entertainment Center are any indication, the message was understood by those who later saw it on television. Many recognized the tragedy that befell victims and families from classmates they had witnessed succumbing to the drug.

"I know friends who do it," Tony Cabjun, 17, from Aiea High School, told the Star-Bulletin's Sally Apgar after the screening. "They had bright futures. Now they're just gone."

Both the state administration and the Legislature have recognized the problem. Legislators approved a $14.7 million drug prevention, drug treatment and law enforcement package in this year's session.

Governor Lingle allowed the package to become law without her signature, criticizing it for emphasizing prevention more than law enforcement. She also was slow in releasing funds for some programs; Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona cited "due diligence" needed to determine whether the money would be "used efficiently and effectively."

Legislators approved the measure after learning that use of crystal meth peaked in Hawaii in 1997, then declined for two years before sharply rising again. In the two documentaries produced by Edgy Lee and Jeffrey Mueller, public officials address the problem, but the powerful messages come from the victims and their families.

Last night's film featured "Nickie and Correy," local boys from families that were devastated by crystal meth. Nickie said he grew up understanding that food stamps were for drugs for his mother. He left home after turning 18.

Correy said he realized at the age of 8 that both his parents were addicted to ice, resulting in a household without electricity, telephone or water. Eight years later, he finally asked the state for a foster home.

When the camera followed the boys to the house where Correy grew up, they were seen opening kitchen cupboards only to find discarded boxes, unwashed cups and rats. "No food," Correy remarked. "It's the same old, same old."

In their search for food, they found a pizza box in a nearby trash can and ate slices after removing ants and other debris. "They're eating pizza taken out of a Dumpster like it's an average, usual meal," commented Archie Aridera, 17, after the screening.

The magnitude of the problem becomes clear when individual stories such as these are multiplied by 8,000 -- the conservative estimate of the number of ice addicts in Hawaii.