REDUCING DEMAND IS KEY TO RIDDING ISLAND OF DRUGS

This week's questions concern speed restrictions at construction sites and
illicit drugs. Let's start with the traffic question:

Q: When highway or shoulder work of a long-term nature is going on, signs
are posted limiting the speed limit to 25 mph within the construction zone.
Does this restriction apply only during working hours or at all times for
the duration of the work?

Currently, there is guard wall work being done on Kuamo'o Road just makai
of the Opaeka'a Falls lookout and, when no one's working, many drivers seem
to ignore the posted speed limit. When I ride my bicycle up that hill, it
can get pretty scary due to narrow lanes and safety barriers!

. Ann

Wailua Homesteads

A: Ann, thank you for that question. This falls under Hawai'i Revised
Statutes Statewide Traffic Code 291C-104, which basically states that the
speed limit at construction sites are modified for safety reasons and shall
be in effect until the work is completed. Speed signs are posted indicating
the safe and prudent speed to drive. The traffic code also states that any
person who violates this section shall be fined $250. Remember that the
code says "shall be fined," not "may" or "could" be fined.

My recommendation to all drivers is to slow down and drive safely for the
sake of bicyclists, construction workers and your pocketbook.

Q: What are you doing about the drug problem on the Westside?

. Maurice

Waimea

A: Tough question, Maurice. What are we doing? I can only say that we are
conducting investigations throughout the island.

I know that's not the answer you were hoping for, but similar to a poker
game, I don't want to show my hand to local drug traffickers who really
don't care who they hurt.

But while we're on the subject, perhaps we can ask how we stop the use of
illegal drugs.

The not-so-simple answer is to reduce demand, because as long as there is a
market for illicit drugs, there will be suppliers. Greed is a terrible
thing, and like I said earlier, these individuals don't care who they hurt.

Take for example the October drug bust here on Kaua'i, which resulted in
the arrest of Edward Cachola and his cohorts in crime. More recently on
O'ahu, Joe Daniels, a local musician of the popular hip-hop band B.E.T.,
was also busted for trafficking 50 pounds of methamphetamine. You would be
naive to think that amount of crystal meth would remain only on O'ahu. You
can bet your bottom dollar that some of it was headed toward our shores.

That amount of ice indicates that there is still a huge demand. Law
enforcement nationwide is working as hard as it can to reduce the supply,
but this is only part of the equation. We need a multi-dimensional approach
to be successful.

Currently there are three generally categories to address the demand side:

. The criminal justice system.

. Education and prevention.

. Treatment and rehabilitation.

The police arrest the drug offender, our courts adjudicate, and our
corrections system incarcerates. Within our court and correction systems,
programs allow for the offender to be educated, treated and, hopefully,
this will lead to rehabilitation and a seamless transition back to becoming
a productive member of society.

Education and preventive programs are implemented through community efforts
and are emphasized within our educational system with programs like DARE
(drug prevention) and GREAT (gang prevention).

Drug treatment and rehabilitation centers throughout the state continue to
make progress, yet financial woes makes it very difficult to offer the
highest level of service that's needed, nor are they able to sustain
effective and essential after-care programs. Without financial and
community support, it's like going into a fight with one hand tied behind
your back and expecting to come out a winner.

From a law enforcement perspective, we must continue to move forward to
reduce the illegal drug supply by arresting and disrupting drug trafficking
organizations. But I am also a strong proponent of treatment and
rehabilitation to reduce demand because we cannot continue in the vicious
circle of arrest and incarceration.

I am by no means a bleeding heart, but I believe some individuals are
predisposed physically and mentally to addiction that may be beyond their
control. These individuals should be allowed to prove their worth through
viable programs with a track record of success.

The Garden Island contributor Annaleha Atkinson in her Feb. 24 "In Your
Corner" column entitled, "The courage to speak up can help addiction,"
eloquently spoke about the horrors of addiction and mentioned ways in which
to seek help.

However, there is one exception: drug traffickers. In my opinion, this is
one of the most despicable human beings alive. I would rank them alongside
rapists and murderers because they continue to poison and kill our
children, and ruin and destroy families just for the sake of a buck. I
would not give a second thought about locking them up for 30 years or more.

So how do we stop illegal drugs? With community and financial support to
reduce demand through treatment and rehabilitation, and the continue
efforts of law enforcement to stop the supply from arriving at our shores
and poisoning our 'ohana and destroying our unique culture.

Darryl Perry is the chief of police at the Kauai Police Department. Send
your comments or questions to dperry@kauai.gov