HAWAII IS THE PERFECT INCUBATOR FOR 'ICE' USE

Edgy Lee's documentary on "Ice" use in Hawaii (shown on 11 television stations
Sept. 24) dramatically showed us the effects of ice use, but neither the
documentary nor the discussions that followed it (KHON, KFVE) gave us much
insight into why Hawaii leads the nation in ice use. We get some answers by
considering the question of how to create an ice epidemic.

First, create a culture in which people, especially young people, are bored and
have low expectations about the future.

Second, create a culture that makes it OK to look for cheap and transitory
thrills.

Third, get people to believe that marijuana, crack, coke and heroin are equally
evil, but encourage the use of alcohol. Since users know that marijuana is not
dangerous and that the abuse of alcohol is, users will learn to distrust people
who tell them otherwise.

Fourth, stamp out marijuana production (especially pertinent in Hawaii). This
produces scarcity and drives up the street costs of marijuana.

Fifth, let the market provide a low-cost, powerful alternative to marijuana.
That this is a horrible alternative is obscured by item No. 3 above.

Sixth, let peer pressure and the market do the rest.

Peter T. Manicas

Honolulu