Pubdate: Fri, 18 Oct 2002 Source: West Hawaii Today (HI) Contact: 2002 West Hawaii Today Website: http://westhawaiitoday.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/644 Author: Colleen Marshall Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Note: For more on ice eradication in Hawaii go to http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii ORIGIN OF 'ICE' STATISTIC UNCLEAR Inouye's Staff Cannot Confirm Source Of Teen Addict Comment It's a staggering comment that's being repeated: Fifty percent of the teen-agers in a Big Island town are addicted to "ice." Numerous county and social service officials, however, could not pinpoint the total population for the "town," let alone how many teen-agers reside there. Most recently the statistic was uttered by U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo, quoted in Honolulu by The Associated Press. He said he heard it from U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, and added, "I'm quoting him. I would not question our senior senator." Inouye was the first to cite the statistic that 50 percent of teen-agers in one town on the Big Island are addicted to crystal methamphetamine during the Aug. 27 Hawaii Island Ice Summit. However he refused then to identify the source of his statistics or to identify the "town." Members of Inouye's staff said Wednesday he was speaking about Milolii, but they did not know the source of the information. Press secretary Sandi Skousen said the staff member charged with writing his speech was traveling this week and she can not be reached for comment. "No one else knows where she got it," Skousen said. Asked if it was responsible to use a statistic of uncertain origin, Skousen again cited the staffer's absence and would not comment. "I can't answer that. I didn't write the speech," she said. Many of the law enforcement, county and social service officials contacted by West Hawaii Today had heard the 50 percent statistic, but none knew where it came from or to whom the information was attributable. Officials also could not provide a concrete figure for the current Milolii population - and no one would estimate the number of teen-agers living there. County Research and Development Department officials said the population is not individually recorded as the lowest threshold for census studies is a population of 317, however they estimate the current Milolii population at 100 - 150 residents. Kubo referred to the "50 percent" figure during an Oct. 11 speech before the presidential commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In that speech, Kubo referred to service agencies reporting 1,000 Big Island children are under some form of state care because their parents are abusing crystal methamphetamine, before quoting Inouye. He said this week he was unsure where the figure was derived and did not even know which town Inouye was citing. Family Support Services of West Hawaii Executive Director Don Bebee and Neighborhood Place of Kona Executive Director Wally Lau said Milolii is an area of concern for social service agencies, but neither could verify Inouye's statement. "I'm not surprised by that quote, but I'm not sure of where the figure came from," Bebee said. Police officials acknowledged an "ice" problem in Milolii, but also cited Pahala, Naalehu, Kealakekekua, Honaunau and Captain Cook as areas of concern. "There is a definite problem in that area, that community, but I don't know where that statistic comes from. Milolii definitely is a place we are looking at," said Lt. Robert Hickox, of the Kona Vice Section. "We're addressing it and we're prioritizing as much as possible." Hickox said officers are working with the area's community policing officer, Child Protective Services and Neighborhood Watch groups to compile information to create a plan to combat the "ice" problem. - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk