Action was taken toward finding solutions to these problems in 2003, when the late Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste formed four committees to investigate the elements of the drug problem: drug prevention, enforcement, treatment and community integration. Later that year, Kaua`i Planning & Action Alliance lent its assistance and resources to assist the committees in creating a comprehensive, integrated plan. The plan included a vision of Kaua`i in five years, and specific two-year action plans to guide us toward achieving the vision.

Progress has been made on many of the action plans, and the Kaua`i Community Response Plan 2008-2013 lays out the tasks needed to build on the initial accomplishments and undertake comprehensive efforts to combat substance abuse on Kaua`i, build stronger families and foster a healthier community. 

Prevention

The prevention plan divides the county into three areas, 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

In addition, there is a Drug Prevention Coalition, with representatives from all three complexes, that serves as the central body to monitor and coordinate all prevention activities and address island-wide issues. 

West Kaua`i Drug Prevention Coalition priority 1-3 year goals include:

1. Provide programs that have been proven to be effective in helping children and families to be drug-free.
2. Offer after-school, intersession, weekend, and summer activities that encourage a drug-free life to youth and families. 
3. Involve the community in efforts to strengthen families and encourage a drug-free life. 

Central District Drug Prevention Coalition priority 1-3 year goals include:

1. Provide programs that have been proven to be effective in helping children and families to be drug-free. 
2. Offer after-school, intersession, weekend, and summer activities that encourage a drug-free life to youth and families.
3. Build and maintain a strong Central District Drug Prevention Coalition for the effective implementation and coordination of prevention activities.

East Kaua`i  Drug Prevention & Education Team priority 1-3 year goals include:

1. Provide programs that have been proven to be effective in helping children and families to be drug-free.
2. Offer after-school, intersession, weekend, and summer activities that encourage a drug-free life to youth and families. 

Island-wide priority 1-2 year goals include:

1. Develop the structure of the Kauai Drug Prevention Coalition (KDPC) to provide effective coordination of drug prevention programs for youth and families on Kauai.
2. Promote the availability of public and other transportation for youth to and from activities.

Priority 1-3 year goals include:

1. Improve communications with the community.
2. Secure funding and other resources needed to support law enforcement and intervention programs.
3. Expand demand reduction programs.
4. Continue and further strengthen working relationships among all County, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies.

In 2006, the Treatment and the Community Integration Committees combined to create greater synergy and avoid duplication. This has proved to be a successful partnership.

Priority 1-3 year goals include:

1. Establish additional residential treatment services and facilities for youth and adults.
2. Establish on-island therapeutic living facilities.
3. Expand drug treatment services within the Kauai Community Correctional Center to support th recovery of prisoners.
4. Ensure that transportation options are available to those seeking services for substance abuse.
5. Participate in the legislative process to ensure needed funding and services for drug treatment and community integration.

The Drug Action Team is composed of the chair and vice-chair of each of the three main committees and meets monthly to monitor the drug plan. The team is chaired by the County's Anti-Drug Coordinator.

Priority 1-3 year goals include:

1. Identify and secure sustainable funding for drug programs.
2. Sustain a management systems to support and coordinate implementation of the plan over the next five years and maintain timely communications among all involved.
3. Develop and make available information on community resources to help individuals and families on Kauai.
4. Coordinate messages to the public to heighten awareness of the goals, activities, and outcomes of the Kaua`i Community Drug Response Plan.

At the time of this plan's publication, State and Federal grants to the County for substance abuse programs are not presently available. The State is in its third year of a five-year $10 million federal Stategic Prevention Framework-State Incentive Grant (SPF-SIG) administered by Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, Hawaii Department of Health. Kauai County is awaiting allocation of funding to the local level.

Presently, many programs are relying on private foundations, corporate support and a very limited number of state grants-in-aid. The County provides a small budget for the Anti-Drug Coordinator's operations. It is recognized that for this plan to be effective, new and ongoing sources of support to combat the substance abuse problem are urgently needed.  

• 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 review and revise the plan over time to address lessons learned and changing conditions.
• Clearly defined outcomes to provide a measurement of success.
• Ongoing communications with the public to enlist their help and partnership in working toward a healthier, safer community.

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