ADDICTS ARE THE KEY TO SOLVING 'ICE' PROBLEM

It's great that many in the community and government have decided to do
something about the ice problem in Hawaii ("Lawmakers to form panel on
'ice,'" Star-Bulletin, June 3).

But many people still don't understand the heart of the problem. By focusing
efforts on drug dealers and importers, you only cut off the supply, not the
need. It's the need that will make the use of ice continue, no matter what
we do to eliminate the dealers and importers. The only way to get rid of ice
is to stop people from using it.

There are two methods to curb drug use: incarceration and treatment.
Incarceration doesn't address the individual's addiction problem, and
treatment only works when the individual is ready to stop using -- and ice
addiction is hard to break.

By combatting just the drug dealer-importer aspect, you will not solve the
real problem -- ice addicts. The addicts commit most of the crimes; by
somehow curbing their appetite for the drug you will get rid of the dealers.
It's a hard problem, but our islands need a solution.

Charles W. Santiago Jr.

Wahiawa