CARLISLE: PREVENTION KEY TO BATTLING 'ICE'

HONOLULU (AP) -- Honolulu City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle told state
lawmakers Saturday that prevention is the key to battling the use of crystal
methamphetamine, the illegal drug known as ''ice.''

''What we have been spending most of our time is the back end of the system,
after somebody's killed somebody, after somebody's already convicted,''
Carlisle said. ''Prevention is where we should be putting our money and our
efforts.''

Carlisle supports proposed legislation that calls for the drug testing of
public school students, so children who test positive can receive treatment.

But Senate Judiciary chairwoman Colleen Hanabusa would like drug testing to
be a parental decision.

''The family should probably be the first line, and if there's support for
that, that's where we should start.'' said Hanabusa, D-Nana-kuli-Makua.

Lawmakers also heard about the dangers of crystal meth from Dr. Barry
Carlton of The Queen's Medical Center.

''We are beginning to see children using regularly as early as the 6th
grade, and certainly throughout high school,'' Carlton said.

Crystal meth is a far greater risk to children than alcohol or marijuana, he
said.