DESPAIR ROOT OF DRUG ABUSE

There are many success stories in the fight against debilitating, illegal drug
use on Maui. For obvious reasons, many of those who have fought the fight and
are winning - usually with family and organizational support - are reluctant to
talk about their experiences.

The winners all have one thing in common: They changed the way they lived. They
removed the reasons for getting into drugs and they removed the associations
that encourage the drug and alcohol abuse. That's easier said than done.
Success comes one day at a time and the fight is never really over.

Maui Police Chief Tom Phillips was absolutely correct when he told members of
the County Council this week there are no quick fixes. "It's a social issue,
not just treatment and prevention. We have to change the way we live."

It starts with recognizing that we live in a society devoted to "magic pills"
promoted by manufacturers and dealers as the answer to everything from
overweight and thinning hair to sexual competence, shaky memories, poor
nutrition, and a host of other problems of the human condition. The list is
nearly endless. While promoting and using legal drugs, our society has decided
- - not always with good reason - there is another list, one of illegal drugs.
Users of these drugs are considered criminals.

Final victory for society will come when the reasons behind the use of illegal
drugs are fully understood. On an individual basis, the reasons are many and
complex, involving physiology, psychology, culture and lifestyle situations,
among others.

For the community, the fight against alcohol and drug abuse - currently focused
on crystal methamphetamine, or ice - should be a two-part effort. One side
involves eliminating supplies of harmful, illegal drugs and providing treatment
and support for those already addicted. The other side is to address the
reasons behind the desire to change reality with some chemical or another - in
effect, re-examine our priorities as individuals and as a society.

Those priorities must include removing the chief causes of despair by making
sure there is meaningful work, adequate housing and some hope of a better
future for everyone.