Pubdate: Thu, 17 Nov 2005
Source: Garden Island (HI)
Copyright: 2005 Kauai Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://kauaiworld.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/964
Author: Lester Chang, The Garden Island
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

MULTI-PRONGED DRUG TREATMENT PROPOSED

Editor's note: This is the third of four stories on the Kaua'i County
Drug Summit 2005, held recently at the Kauai Beach Resorts (formerly
the Radisson Kauai Beach Resort near Hanama'ulu). Today's installment
is on drug-treatment ideas. Tomorrow's final installment will be on
enforcement, and community-integration plans .

A multi-pronged treatment program is planned, in the process of being
implemented, and necessary, to fully fight the war on drugs, experts
said during the Kaua'i County Drug Summit 2005.

It was held recently at the Kauai Beach Resorts, formerly the Radisson
Kauai Beach Resort, off Kuhio Highway near Hanama'ulu.

Mardi Maione, a drug-treatment specialist with Maluhia Addiction
Services, talked about the five goals set by drug-treatment committee
members, at the summit.

The first is to coordinate communications and services with leaders of
planned on-island treatment facilities, and promote additional
facilities, she said.

Headway was made on this by committee members' support of leaders of
the Calvary Chapel's efforts to secure zoning and permits in Kapa'a
for their center for men with substance-abuse problems, as well as its
U-Turn for Children program .

Other projects that the drug-treatment committee members have
advocated include the establishment of adoles-centresidential
treatment and therapeutic-living facilities, the expansion of
treatment services offered by Ho'ola Lahui Hawai'i, and the
establishment of Teen Care Centers at all middle and high schools on
Kaua'i by officials with Hina Mauka .

The second goal set by the drug-treatment committee members is to
provide financial assistance to individuals to cover incidental costs
for off-island residential treatment.

This was achieved by supporting efforts to obtain federal funding for
a program that would provide this service .

Hina Mauka leaders got the contract in September.

Goal three is to establish a substance-abuse help line manned by
experts, to provide referrals and information to individuals and
members of families in need, said Mary Daubert, county public
information officer .

A lot of progress has been made on this project, she said, as
committee members are now awaiting word on a grant application for a
phone and phone services .

Another objective of the drug-treatment committee members is to
educate the community on the causes and treatment of substance
addiction, and to change the way members of the community view drug
addicts, Daubert said .

Much has been done to accomplish this objective, such as the holding
of workshops for members of the faith-based community. Several
sessions of the state Department of Education Teachers Academy were
held, to familiarize teachers and staff with signs and symptoms of
drug use, and presentations were made to representatives of local
businesses, sports and youth groups, parents of Head Start youngsters,
and some of the state Department of Human Services staff members .

The final goal set by the drug-treatment committee members is to
provide professional training opportunities for substance-abuse
counselors, mental-health professionals and social workers .

Maione reported that the first training session was held in June, and
committee members are hoping to provide additional sessions on a
quarterly basis . 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake