QUESTION: What ever happened to the Hawaii Meth Project?

ANSWER: The project, launched last June to combat methamphetamine or “;ice”; use among teens and young adults, has had “;overwhelmingly very, very positive”; response, says the executive director.

A just-completed school survey will provide the first comparative data since the project began, said Cindy Adams, adding it will take awhile to tabulate the results and analyze the data. However, she said the project's outreach volunteers have met with more than 4,000 teenagers statewide and been to 40 or 45 schools, as well as after-school programs and meetings in the community.

Hawaii last year was the seventh state to start a Meth Project aimed at reducing first-time meth use through a strong media campaign, public service messages, public policy and community education and outreach.

“;Teens without exception are watching the TV ads and listening to radio ads,”; Adams said. “;Some on the way to school in the morning are stopping conversation with parents to listen to an ad when it comes on.”;

She said the goal is to reach 70 to 90 percent of teens four or five times a week with the ads and, based on a show of hands in classes, “;we definitely are accomplishing that.”;

The TV ads are shown between 7 p.m. and midnight, which broadcast stations say is the best time to reach teens, Adams said. A parent occasionally tells her the TV ad is too graphic for a 5-, 7- or 9-year-old, but even for children that young, she said, “;It's not too early to start having a conversation with them”; about risky behavior.

She noted “;tremendous feedback”; from recovering addicts, with comments such as: “;'That's what I looked like. It took only one time before I became addicted to the drug. It completely changed my life. I lost my wife, my kids, my home, my job. Parents don't want to talk about this stuff but this is real, this is what it looks like.'”;

Crystal methamphetamine continues to be the community's worst drug problem, she said. “;We're hoping we're starting to make a difference. We're expecting to see a change in attitude before a change in behavior.”;

Charles Schwab, founder and chairman of the Charles Schwab Corp. and his wife, Helen, part-time Big Island residents, initially funded the program. But Adams said she and the board are fundraising to make it self-sustaining.

Donations can be made to The Hawaii Meth Project, 999 Bishop St., 24th floor, Honolulu, HI 96813, or online at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Volunteers also are needed for outreach. Call 529-6254.