CHIEF: NO QUICK FIXES IN DRUG FIGHT

WAILUKU - A Maui County Council committee continued to put the heat on the ice
epidemic Monday with an overview of local programs available to help users
conquer their addictions followed by a discussion of what more needs to be
done.

But Maui Police Chief Tom Phillips reminded lawmakers that ice is only part of
the drug iceberg and that only a long, concerted effort - not a quick fix -
will solve anything.

"Everyone is looking for the fast solution," said Phil-lips, pointing to the
recent blitz of media reports and attention from politicians. "Can we solve
this by tomorrow? A year from now? Ten years from now? By the time I'm up for
re-election? Š

"It's a social issue, not just treatment and prevention. We have to change the
way we live."

If not, more and more of Maui's taxpayer money will go to cleaning up the
messes created by drugs, meaning that other programs might not get the funds
requested. Alice Lee, director of the Department of Housing and Human Concerns,
already gave the impression she'd be asking for more money in the local war on
drugs when next year's budget hearings begin. Lee said her office needed "at
least another $400,000."

The meeting of the Housing and Human Resources Committee called by Chairman Joe
Pontanilla was among several events that will keep the ice issue in the public
eye. Tonight, from 6 to 8, an anti-drug rally will be held at the Lihikai
School cafeteria and on Oct. 9 at 10 a.m., Maui officials will lead a local
follow-up to the statewide drug summit held earlier this month. That event will
take place at the Maui Economic Opportunity complex.

Christina Fisher, the county's substance abuse coordinator, said it's these
public gatherings, not just money for programs, that will put Maui on the road
to recovery.

"We need to go to a deeper level and that's what's happening now in our
communities," she said, pointing to the examples of residents waving signs to
give drug dealers the message that they're not welcome in their neighborhoods.

She said the barrage of newspaper stories, television specials and roundtable
discussions has provided Hawaii with "a tremendous opportunity" to move
forward.

Phillips said ice was "the current drug of choice," but added that the overall
mission must be directed at the prevention of all illegal drugs as well as
alcohol abuse - not just ice. He said that drugs have been behind the vast
majority of crimes since the 1970s with a new drug rising to the top every so
often. In the 1980s, it was crack cocaine. Three years ago, it was black tar
heroin. Next year, it could be PCP, which has made a comeback on the Mainland.

Because of the addictive nature of ice and the horrible violence that often
accompanies its use, the drug has overshadowed all others.

"But we have just as many alcohol-related crimes," he said.

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Tam said what many victims of crime on Maui
already know from experience: that more than 75 percent of all criminal cases
are drug-related.

Phillips said he'd like to see a school curriculum developed to change the way
children think at a young age. Fisher and Lee said they were already developing
programs aimed at improving a child's self-image and feeling good about
themselves without the need for substances. Prosecuting Attorney Davelynn
Tengan said she'd like Hawaii to come up with a slogan that everyone remembers
- - she cited the "Don't Shake a Keiki" campaign from a few years ago - which
would urge against drug use.

Fisher also said, as part of prevention, she was showing kids some of the
ingredients used in making ice that would be inhaled into the user's body:
drain cleaner, camping fuel, acetone, Red Devil lye, iodine and other poisons.

"We want them to get the picture of the scary ingredients," she said.

The officials who deal with the results of ice firsthand appreciated the
opportunity to speak to the committee, but they realized they need more than
lawmakers to take the issue seriously.

"It takes more than county agencies; it takes communities," said Phillips. "If
kids are living in despair, if they grow up in despair, it takes someone to go
in there and to do things for them" to build their characters and give them
confidence.

Fisher said it's time for the public to end the "conspiracy of silence," a
byproduct of the humble nature of many Hawaii residents that causes them not to
speak up. She said if people know they're living next to a drug house, they
need to report license numbers of vehicles coming and going. They need to get
involved.

Councilman Danny Mateo agreed. "Each one of us must take ownership," he said.