COUNTY TO HOST SUBSTANCE ABUSE EXPERTS

The county will host well-known speakers next month to talk about
current drug trends and to provide strategies on how to deal with
substance abuse.

Co-sponsored by the Anti-Drug Program and Leadership Kaua'i, the
second seminar in the Kaua'i Community Drug Awareness Speaker Series
is scheduled for Feb. 6 at the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall.

Participants will be able to stop by information tables set up by
various organizations that provide drug prevention and treatment
services, from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the drug awareness
presentation to follow.

The event will feature Detective Mark Middleton from the Martin
County Sheriff's Department in Florida, Thomas Janette and Scott
Duva, Connecticut Narcotic Enforcement Officer's Association, and
Gary Shimabukuro, president of Laulima Hawai'i LLC.

"The panelists are experts in the field of drug prevention, and have
given numerous presentations around the country," Theresa Koki, the
county's anti-drug coordinator, said in a press release.

Middleton has been in law enforcement for 20 years and has been
involved in many facets of police work, including DARE and GREAT
programs, school resource office, road patrol and corrections.
Currently he is assigned to the juvenile crime unit.

Since 1993, Middleton has made numerous presentations across the
Mainland on drug trends, the influence of music on today's youth and
Internet safety.

Shimabukuro is president of Laulima Hawai'i, an organization that is
committed to helping to create a drug free environment in businesses,
communities and families.

Over the last 20 years, Shimabukuro has provided Drug Free Workplace
training for approximately 200,000 people throughout Hawai'i, Alaska,
California, Guam, Saipan, Palau, Australia and New Zealand. He has
also conducted many drug prevention seminars on a volunteer basis for
youth groups, teachers, parents, churches and community organizations.

Janette serves as the director of the Connecticut Narcotic
Enforcement Officers Association. He has been featured on
award-winning prevention and substance abuse videos.

Duva is a law enforcement officer in Connecticut. He works closely
with Janette on prevention and substance abuse programs.

The Kaua'i Community Drug Awareness Speaker Series was developed by a
Leadership Kaua'i group called "The Challengers."

The group's mission is to support the community and families who are
vulnerable to the onslaught of drugs by providing specific drug
awareness and education.