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Kaua`i is known world-wide as a beautiful and popular tropical resort destination. But like a growing number of American communities, Kaua`i has a serious and mounting drug problem that affects many aspects of our lives. A few statistics and anecdotal data provide a snapshot of the drug problem on Kaua`i.
- 80-90% of all crimes committed on Kaua`i are drug-related.
- Of the island’s population of 58,463, 1,085 adults and 195 adolescents receive some level of treatment for drug abuse each year.
- Over 17% of adolescents report exposure to illicit drug use in school and community.
- About 750 individuals who are on probation, parole, drug court, or awaiting sentencing need help to re-integrate into the community, but services are fragmented or not available.
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Theresa Koki Anti-Drug Coordinator County of Kauai 4444 Rice Street Suite 235 Lihue, Kauai, HI 96766 |
To request a copy of the Kauai Committee Drug Response Plan, please contact Theresa Koki.
Business: (808) 241-6312 Fax: (808) 241-6807 E:mail:
tkoki@kauai.gov |
The community’s response to this drug problem has been to create a comprehensive, integrated plan that encompasses the elements of drug prevention, enforcement, treatment and community integration. The plan includes a vision of Kaua`i in five years, and specific two-year action plans that will guide us in achieving the vision.
The prevention plan divides the county into three districts, coinciding with school district complexes, West, Central, and East Kaua`i. Goals are targeted to the specific risk and protective factors identified in each district.
West Kaua`i priority 1-2 year goals include:
- Reduce alcohol and drug use of people of all ages by increasing community awareness, preventing underage access, enforcing laws, and mobilizing the community.
- Help youth and parents/guardians strengthen family bonds by creating opportunities for teens to contribute to the family, improve communications, and resist peer pressure.
- Promote youth social development by creating opportunities to bond with an individual who promotes healthy beliefs and clear standards.
Central Kaua`i priority 1-2 year goals include:
- Support broad-based, interfaith, interracial activities for youth to increase youth and family attachment to the community.
- Reduce alcohol and drug use of people of all ages by increasing community awareness, preventing underage access, enforcing laws, and mobilizing the community.
- Enhance students’ self-esteem, feelings of self-efficacy, ability to make decisions, and ability to resist peer and media pressure to increase their commitment to school.
East Kaua`i priority 1-2 year goals include:
- Help youth and parents/guardians strengthen family bonds by creating opportunities for teens to contribute to the family, improve communications, and resist peer pressure.
- Promote early intervention literacy programs for the lowest achieving elementary school students.
- Promote mentoring, community service, social competence training, and family activities to build youths’ sense of personal responsibility for self and community.
Island-wide priority 1-2 year goals include:
- Promote after-school, weekend, and summer youth and family activities that encourage a drug-free life.
- Increase public transportation access to and from activities.
- Strengthen and develop the organizational structure of the Kaua`i Drug Prevention Coalition (KDPC).
Priority 1-2 year goals include:
- Monitor and support lobbying efforts that support drug enforcement, support intervention programs, and eliminate inconsistencies in the law.
- Identify and secure funding for law enforcement and support funding for intervention programs.
- Prevent illegal drugs from entering Kaua`i at all points of entry, including harbors, airports, and postal services.
- Provide an effective way for the community and police to work together to curb illegal drug activity on Kaua`i.
- Educate the community on the role of law enforcement, intervention programs, and the criminal justice system.
Priority 1-2 year goals include:
- Coordinate communications and services with planned on-island treatment facilities and promote additional facilities.
- Provide financial assistance to individuals to cover incidental costs of off-island residential treatment.
- Develop a substance abuse help line to provide referrals and information to individuals and families in need.
- Educate the community on the causes and treatment of substance addiction.
- Provide professional training opportunities for substance abuse counselors, mental health professionals, and social workers.
- Designate safe drop-in facilities throughout the island and coordinate services so that personnel at these facilities can provide resources for family, addicts, and others.
Priority 1-2 year goals include:
- Develop “store-fronts” or one-stop shops where ex-drug users can make a transition to a drug-free life in their own communities.
- Identify and train “navigators” who will work with ex-drug users leaving treatment and/or incarceration until they are solidly integrated into the community.
- Identify and work with community-based and faith-based organizations to provide community integration support services.
- Work with Kaua`i Community Correctional Center to help ex-offenders develop exit plans that will ensure their successful community integration and support families in the process.
| Coordination & Implementation | Priority 1-2 year goals include:
- Identify and secure sustainable funding for drug programs.
- Adopt a management system to coordinate implementation of the plan over the next two years, including measuring outcomes.
- Develop and make available information on drug-related community resources to help individuals and families.
- Coordinate messages to the public to heighten awareness of the goals, activities, and outcomes of the Kaua`i Community Drug Response Plan .
In Year 1, $1.4 million in federal funding has been secured for Kaua`i through the efforts of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye. Year 2 funds have been earmarked, but not secured.
In May 2004, the State Legislature approved funding for treatment and prevention. The amount of funds available to Kaua`i, and whether or not the funds will be released is not known at the time of this writing.
To ensure that the Kaua`i Community Drug Response Plan is effectively implemented and drug use is reduced over the next two years, we will need:
- Committed and sustained participation of members on the action team, committees, and coalition.
- Continued, ongoing support by the Administration and County Council.
- Willingness of current and new nonprofit and community-based programs to seek funds for and implement various activities in the plan.
- To secure a new, sustainable funding source for drug programs.
- Willingness to amend and revise the plan over time to address lessons learned and changing conditions.
- Clearly defined outcomes to provide a measurement of success.
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