STATE DRUG SUMMIT ENDS

HONOLULU -- Establishing a drug czar position or commission to address and
oversee Hawaii's drug problem was among the final recommendations that resulted
from the state's first drug summit, which ended Wednesday.

Lt. Gov. James ''Duke'' Aiona, who convened the three-day Hawaii Drug Control
Strategy Summit in Waikiki, said all the suggestions will taken to Gov. Linda
Lingle and shared with state department heads and lawmakers.

''This is just the beginning of the work we're about to embark on,'' Aiona
said. ''I anticipate a successful journey toward our common goal of reducing
substance abuse and underage drinking in Hawaii.''

Aiona said the call for a drug czar or office is a ''loud and clear'' message
that more needs to be done with coordinating state services, and better
collaboration between law enforcement, prevention and treatment.

''It's fragmented. We need coordination,'' Aiona said. ''We need a supervisor,
a coordinator in all of this.''

He also said staffing, funding and coordinating a state anti-drug office would
be a major hurdle that needs to be discussed with legislators.

Some of the other recommendations included:

* Establish community-based, state-supported collaboration that will strengthen
and expand services that are cultural sensitive.

* Provide adequate funding for substance abuse treatment to all people who need
and want it.

* Create an emergency fund for treatment with assets from drug forfeitures.

* Immediately appoint a temporary director to provide the necessary follow-up
of the summit recommendations and through legislation, establish an executive
branch level office or body.

''The systematic changes may take longer than we may think simply because we've
been so entrenched for awhile now in a certain way of doing business,'' Aiona
said.

Officials also announced was a $3.6 million federal grant that Hawaii will
receive over five years. The funds are intended to expand centers that treat
patients with both mental illness and substance abuse problems, also known as
''co-occuring'' disorders.

The funds come from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, a part of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.

''Individuals with co-occuring disorders should be the expectation, not the
exception in the substance abuse treatment and mental health service systems,''
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said in a statement. ''This
grant will help individuals in Hawaii obtain the coordinated treatment they
need to recover and lead healthy lives.''

Hawaii was one of 42 states that applied for the State Incentive Grant Program
and was the first of seven grantees to receive the funds.

Program administrator Charles Curie said Hawaii demonstrated it had a great
approach and understanding of co-occuring disorders. Some 4 million Americans
have substance abuse problems and serious mental illness, he said.