SUMMIT TO ADDRESS 'ICE' EPIDEMIC

Lt. Gov. Aiona Wants To Provide Officials And The Community With A Forum On
Drugs

Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona says the "ice" epidemic, existing for more than
a decade in Hawaii, has touched enough people in so many different ways that
they are taking action to stop it.

Aiona announced yesterday that a drug summit that will focus on the soaring
use of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," is scheduled for Sept. 17-18.

Although the focus of the summit is expected to be ice, other drugs -- such
as alcohol, marijuana and cocaine -- will also be discussed.

The summit's goal is to create a working document that describes in detail
how the state plans to mitigate and relieve its substance abuse problems,
most notably Hawaii's No. 1 ranking as having the worst ice problem in the
country.

Aiona, point man in the Lingle administration on substance abuse and crime,
said the upcoming summit, titled Hawaii Drug Control Strategy: A New
Beginning, provides a forum for government officials and the community to
improve the quality of life in the state by reducing the use of illicit
drugs.

He said an outline for the conference should be ready by July 3.

Aiona likened today's ice situation to cigarette smoking in the 1960s and
1970s; there was not much public outcry during that time, and it was only
after people realized the harmful affects of smoking that it become a major
public health issue.

"Our communities are speaking up that they will not sit back and tolerate
substance abuse among our children or the harmful impact it is having on our
families and neighborhoods," Aiona said.

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo, a member of the conference's steering community, said
the event is a comprehensive approach to an issue that has gotten the
public's attention, based on community meetings he has attended.

Kubo was so encouraged by Aiona's plans that he canceled his own for a
similar conference in August and will instead consolidate the federal
efforts with the state.

Aiona said one of the possible outcomes of the summit is drug treatment
centers.

He said he has met with at least seven private companies interested in
creating a possible drug rehabilitation or treatment center in Hawaii.

One unnamed group in particular, he said, is already in the planning stages
of developing a facility for an offender-based treatment program.

"I'm hoping those corporations and those industries will step forward and
see the need we have in this community for those types of physical plants or
facilities, and know that Hawaii will be able to support them," said Aiona,
who did not elaborate on the plan.

Aiona said between 200 and 500 people are expected to participate in the
conference.

Meanwhile, the lieutenant governor said this conference and plans by state
legislators to study the ice issue this fall compliment each other.

Earlier this week, legislative leaders announced the formation of a
House-Senate Ice Committee to come up with proposed legislation for next
session.