THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

132

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH to launch a renewed PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON THE DANGERS OF CRYSTAL METHAMPHETAMINE.

 

 

WHEREAS, crystal methamphetamine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that dramatically affects the central nervous system, causing immediate and serious behavior problems, including irritability, anxiety, paranoia, and aggression that can lead to violent behavior; and

WHEREAS, even limited use of crystal methamphetamine can result in hyperthermia and convulsions or cardiovascular collapse which can lead to immediate death, while in other cases, studies indicate that limited use can lead to increased long-term neurodegenerative disease as young users age; and

WHEREAS, addiction to crystal methamphetamine can happen almost immediately with some users reporting addiction from the first use, while on the other hand, successful recovery from addiction is a long-term process and may involve multiple relapses before a patient achieves prolonged abstinence; and

WHEREAS, substance abuse is associated with ninety per cent of confirmed child abuse and other domestic violence cases, with crystal methamphetamine being a factor in many of these cases, leading to the destruction of the family unit and long-term, far-reaching community problems; and

WHEREAS, crystal methamphetamine is relatively easy to manufacture from inexpensive and widely available over-the-counter ingredients, making it available to users in a number of forms at relatively low cost; and

WHEREAS, from January 2000 to September 2001, nearly thirty-six per cent of all males arrested in Honolulu tested positive for crystal methamphetamine, making Honolulu the city with the highest per cent of arrested males testing positive in the major metropolitan cities in the United States; and

WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2002, crystal methamphetamine was the primary substance used by nearly thirty-nine per cent of adults admitted for treatment by Department of Health funded programs, exceeding those clients treated for alcohol abuse, which was the previous perennial leading favored drug of abuse among Department of Health clients; and

WHEREAS, since 1990, it has been recognized that crystal methamphetamine use has reached epidemic proportions in Hawaii and is the primary cause of increases in burglaries, shoplifting, robberies, purse snatchings and car thefts, thus helping raise Hawaii's larceny-theft rate to the highest in the nation; and

WHEREAS, the solution to this problem continues to be a multi-faceted, wide ranging, community-wide approach that includes education and prevention programs, a criminal justice program with penalties and sanctions, and a multiple treatment programs initiative; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division, has been deeply involved in monitoring the problem of crystal methamphetamine, along with all other drug abuse, and has been overseeing a number of prevention and treatment programs statewide; and

WHEREAS, while numerous prevention and treatment programs are successfully operating, it remains imperative that the public be made and kept aware of the pervasive nature of this chronic community-wide problem with public educational programs; and

WHEREAS, it is important for the public to recognize key signs of this problem and be aware of key intervention points for potential users, particularly involving our adolescents; and

WHEREAS, earlier public service announcements and public educational campaigns were successfully used to combat earlier epidemics of other drugs prevalent at the time, such as the public awareness campaign against amphetamines or speed; and

WHEREAS, a new public educational program in partnership with the private sector may be another effective weapon in the fight against crystal methamphetamine; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2003, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to launch a renewed public educational campaign to combat the problem of crystal methamphetamine; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to engage the active participation of the Department of Education, local law enforcement agencies, the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii, and private sector public relations, advertising, and marketing industries in the campaign; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health, the Superintendent of Education, the Police Chiefs of each county, and the President of the Coalition for a Drug Free Hawaii.

Report Title:

Renewed Public Educational Campaign; Combat Crystal Methamphetamine