YOU ARE THE ANSWER TO SOLVING THE 'ICE' EPIDEMIC

Crystal methamphetamine - "ice" - has reached epidemic proportions on our
island.

That's old news, but it is getting front page status - again.

We reported the scope of the problem in these pages in December 1999, though
its magnitude has increased since.

Community awareness of the problem has also not been lacking. Community
meetings were convened in February 2001 with police, addiction specialists,
judiciary and social services representatives, as well as community leaders.
The problem was acknowledged again, and this newspaper on its front page
shared that with the community at large.

Big Island police in May 2001 claimed "ice" was the department's top
priority in its fight against illegal drugs and they maintained "ice"
possess the greatest danger to the community.

The staggering social impacts resulting from "ice" use, from increasing
property crimes to its overwhelming influence on the majority number of
children placed in protective custody have equally been aired.

Also covered by this paper in December 1999 were the medical facets of "ice"
addiction, its action upon the central nervous system, and the difficulty of
addicts to recover.

In February last year Kona Police Patrol Capt. John Dawrs said, "There are
not enough people taking it on as everybody's problem. We cannot just give
the police more money, you have to give half to the treatment specialists,
it has to go both ways. The system is mixed up. There is not enough jail
space, not enough officers, not enough treatment specialists. We don't have
enough officers to take each 'ice' call."

The problem is not new. There are no surprises here.

The "Ice Summit" convened Tuesday in Waikoloa reiterated the problem and
made clear once again, there is no easy or simple solution at hand. Other
than cooperative generalizations about the need to "integrate prevention,
treatment and enforcement for any program to be effective," there was no new
immediate plan of action, more a reiteration of what has been said.

Sen. Daniel Inouye said, "There is no silver bullet. I don't have the
answer. The answers will have to come from the community."

That sentiment echoed many voiced over the past few years. The frustration
is apparent - and obvious, as much so as the problem itself.

Although Inouye brought with him to the summit $4 million in federal funding
and Drug Enforcement Administration Director Asa Hutchinson, that will be
insufficient to battle the problem. In December 2000, Congress approved
$2.67 million to be used for Hawaii anti-drug efforts. Inouye then requested
Congress approve the funds because drug flow through Hawaii "can be
significantly disrupted by focusing drug intelligence, interdiction and
enforcement resources." Has it - since?

Money and programs fashioned into weapons against "ice" are laudable, but
they must be quantifiable in their return. We cannot simply fund new
equipment, or officers, or interdiction programs, without the mandatory
return - quantifiable results. Without those results, funding must be
stopped. It's not an excuse to hop on the government subsidy gravy train.

Quantifiable should also be an underlying factor in police, Child Protective
Services, Judiciary and health care-related reporting of the "ice" problem.
All agencies dealing with people impacted by ice, victim or addict, should
and must begin to record that information into a data base, as knowledge
will be key in assembling any effective move against the drug problem.

We know the magnitude of the "ice" problem has been made clear to the
community. But is the community paying attention?

Are parents aware the danger posed to their children? Have they seriously
discussed "ice" with their children? Do they recognize the role "ice" plays
in burglaries and other property crimes, or the cost, fiscally and socially,
that "ice" is exacting upon our communities? Are they willing to do their
part, small though it may be, to resolve the problem - whether through
understanding its nature and showing tolerance of the addict seeking
treatment or conversely expressing intolerance of those who spread the drug
and worsen its abusive stain on our lives?

The "ice" summit held no real or new answers, shed no light on a problem
disavowed or ignored. It brought more money to the table.

But the answer ultimately lies at your door, right inside and just outside,
in our community: It's your involvement.