HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0990.031 1996-1998
NOV-1'7-98 TUE 8:07 UH SOHOOL OF PUBLIC HLTH FAX NO. 808 956 4585 Pr,01
01
/ NW-17-1998 0734 -
for. Aaron S.Y..Chwo& Chair
Committee oa Phumae r RECE1vED
fwmri County coma?
25 Aaputd St. ArtA - _r- ey._--
Mo. HsW99 96720 hate---------_---
county counvl/G
Deer Mr. Chuag and the FWznoe Conroe;
SUBAX-r Support abr Rmuttoa 328-98, Ccu=miaetlon 990
1 am J. Wdrom Wood. MPlit, Phil, Iate im Dean asw Ptoahator of Public Flatdth at the University
0ERWId'i at Mates sdwd of Public health. I am curs* the Principal faveatigator of than
State's Commurdty Homed Treatment Needs Aaaeaament having dame a simian task for the State
In 1991. In my capacity as a &m*y ofthe School orPubiic Heath (BFPO I ooordlaW a Woep
known as the Comas oily Epidsovolcoc* Warn Group (CEWG) w bkh is sponsored by the
National 7nathuto on DAW Abuse (?W)A) and meets every 6 moat to review the atatus of
substanoo thus in Aawtd`l.
Our CSWO brings together in&mfuak involved = the prevtrdton, traatmant and imerdwtion of
subsume abuse sad Its abusers in the state. in tonal, we have about 35 reproves bringing
their materials to our meeting.. The CEWG in HavwPi Ism been opaatiomal since 1989 and we
have just eotapleted our 24th medib$ ofthis group sad have several oonsl twA 8stdegs that I hW
you should be aware dfbe$rn ded&* on this neecludgm Mar4utmtt abuse is the stated cause Ibr
the second largest mn*w of admission to treatment in programs sponsored by the State of
Iiaw&i'a Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division. To addition, it Is still eonddoned a drag of abuse and
one in Which, for malty you0g PeoPk, is a "Soy" idrul~
Igaorwa the asSative health impact of shaking moon the drug r a social problem fbr
the State. The mardtam of the 1990'a is aot the smite as the marijuana oftbo 1%0's and 197WL
Its potency malras It every be as h wmM as other drugs usually thotugbt hiss addictive. Furrier,
rate atanctm of crime to aodAtles such as marijumm eohNstlon ad ask is a ea:efton report to
the CLVQ. Finally, these 9nd'ntgs arts not Unique to Hawaii but rather are rgxwW ftm most of
the 22 cities repordag to the Natfonel CBWQ eetwork. The &M r emebut it problmn for those
involved k the pro"Alarr of health education ad social atvicea tlaoughma the stoic.
The issue et had. as I tmdmsdutd it Is "should rho county accept £ederai Rinds dew abr
nuuV wta "Ibrrema t dotW ilmlese We atlstr ofaimds is VWY diffmou alum others with
WJdch I am 9tttnliar, the total "r*r'arnWd Cftf a' allaws for etWWAUMM of the Rends abr
k6setructural mq*Kvi as wail as program that Mm on the prevmtdon of drug abuse and the
strengthaniag of cva aunaaa agaaast dtug abttaa. 't'hese aWotts are usually piayod out is the
Schools, Businesses, and Costrttttalides through teens sad pwa*v tips that have positive
Impacts on their tespa*V0 groups.
I worry about arb bola o is decision malting and am ooncerned that no atedfble &Adua ice
research erdsts on this program to demonstraft unequivocally the positive and negttive impacts of
' g9o.31
awe. Ne. U 5 G -
N71e Na.
W. Ta Presert{ed F ~
NOV-17-98 TUE 8:08 UH SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HLTH FAX NO. 808 956 4585 Pr.0025,e5
NOU-17-1990 04;35
the program. Further, since these moneys have been saaepted by the wumty Jbr a wy years as of
this date, I wondW about the M MV that deddieg to reject them out of hood might have for the
public as wad as the grant providers, h the problem resolved?
I lam commews "wad" the general low aftvamtaa problems associated with mare, open
drug euldvatlom, Was and use in the eomtmity to those closer to *a front gm, i woad auggest.
howevor, that areas adopting "zero teieeance pmogracns have sort a dear mamgla to ttor
comrm that they vrlll not totlrats ANY =*vado4 ponwz%n, rrle or use of dnW in their
area. I wonder wbat the massgs rweivcd by the comnamity would be if tiffs eafotnauent
Program were otncetaei.
Clearly, tber most e0libiened approach to this d 1stunat is to a* sobak m ow reduce the harm
to the oommurdty of the drugs *Waring is. Egaadty clear is that muny in the community feel that
drugs larch fs marijuana are ant °hssWW Send should bo legalised, I suggest do tegd odom and
use inmm ate beyond the scope of dmWdhu sa a Fwence Comm Utee, "to whether to accept
finds that fro esssatiai to support your police department's eM - to prevau drug abase In yaw
eommunidw Ifyou ate prepared to replace thm euwU AaWs with county funds rinsed ftm
county t=M so be it. Ifyora intent is to 4dwA the program by not w *m federal lands,
I plead with you to rm=Wer. WWxnn a strong dntg MW&cdon program im your wady. the
potec" for dealieg with yaw county's serous cocaine, medwmpheiguint and I F, An problems
I thank You lbr the opportunity to submit this testinmy to you and wits have the miginsi
dowmett emit via pwW stag to you. Should you Seca fttt you lave gmestioms regarding this
taetimonY or that you need additional Wor madom on is content Plow contact ma at (sob) 9sd-
8491,
Yours riacevly,
D. Willa m wood, t1QPK PW,
Interim Dean and Prohnor af" Uo Hasbb
TOTAL P.05