Drug Survey – Comments
Solutions 2003 - May 17, 2003
- You have to have the manpower in order to deal with all of the items listed above. Most everyone knows drug abuse is illegal, however many accept that drugs will be used, so, so what? In order to address this "attitude" problem, one needs to severely crack down on drug houses, drugs in schools, suppliers of drugs, and users. Perhaps the place to start is to make illegal drug manufacture, import, selling, and/or giving away, a felony, punishable by a stiff prison sentence. The underage should be put in youth correctional facilities. The already hooked should have a 3 strikes you're out penalty. First offense: rehab; 2nd offense longer rehab. 3rd offense: incarceration.
The same principles should be applied to "substance abuse" including abuse of alcohol. It seems abuse of alcohol and/or drugs underlie most domestic violence. Get treatment, get cured or go to jail.
In addition to getting the needed manpower to implement measures to bring these problems under control, we need to go back to a practice our newspaper long ago dropped: namely, naming individuals involved in DUI, names of individuals arrested for family violence, and arrests of individuals involved in the importation, production and/or sale of illegal drugs. I believe the public has a right to know who these people are as well as what they have done. I also believe that such publicity would go a fairly long way toward reducing the number of people wanting to risk their lives/or reputations by participating in these activities. One would hope the social pressure on them might have significant impact.
The juveniles, who fail the 3rd strike you're out, should also suffer the consequences of having their names in the newspaper as well. The protection of Juveniles should be suspended in these cases. At least the parents of children who know these kids can take steps to keep their children away from the offenders, and hopefully stem a trend for some of them to join up.
It is my opinion that TLC will not stem the rising tide of these offenses. Some people only get the message when the consequences are harsh. And then, sadly, there are some who never get the message. However, it may be worth the trouble of rehabilitating those candidates who can make better lives for themselves.
- Hard to pick only three!
- Affordable and accessible public transportation
- Marijuana eradication is the major CAUSE of poverty, property crimes, child abuse, 'ice' and worse.
Comments: Aloha.
It is imperative that there be a discussion of the major cause behind the epidemics of poverty, child abuse, property crimes and 'ice' here on the Big Island. By acknowledging the cause you can then recognize the cure.
The CAUSE of most of the trouble on our island is one thing and one thing only...marijuana eradication. To pretend otherwise is foolhardy and grossly irresponsible ... as was evident in the scripted 'ICE' Summit meeting last August. What a rude joke on gullible people that was.
Please let the full sun shine in on this important event. The denial has gone on WAY too long on this island.
I look forward to seeing you at the May 17th event.
- The outrageous failure of drug prohibition
- Hard to pick only three!
- Police apathy
- Lack of Education in schools re: the effects/damage caused by drugs
- I want to just comment on why I feel my 3 choices listed above should be considered as priority.
For example: If we had babies just flowing down a river, we would start jumping in to save those innocent babies. We would also start to find homes for them with adoptive parents or possibly build orphanages to house all of these babies that continue to flow down stream. BUT while we continue to rescue these babies, the priority solution should be to go up-stream and take care of the initial problem - where it all begins - so that we reduce the amount of babies flowing down the river.
- It is essential that we have 'treatment on demand' in residential treatment centers for all those already affected. This means if someone knows they have a problem they can easily get the level of help they need, and not have to fail at out patient's before they can get to an inpatient program.
The police should have a zero tolerance level for dealing drugs in the schools, and the schools need to immediately report to police. There has been an acceptance in the schools for marijuana use all these years, and now ice is a problem. The most severe users I see are in there 20's and there is very little help for them until it gets so bad the police and cps are involved.
- The key is to coordinate services and information between agencies.
- Ice is such a problem we need to get to the root of it. Ice is evil. Users can only help themselves; it is all a matter of choice.... Free Will.....
- It is hard not to say "All of the Above."
- Treatment alternatives and early childhood education...self esteem issues and living healthy lifestyle.
Comments: I have been involved in community coalition task force in Olympia Washington. We decided to focus on keeping neighborhoods safe and having the neighborhood watch program become effective way to reduce incidents of criminal activity, an outcome due to increase in drug use.
Ultimately, prevention is key and it has to do with children being resilient; a sense of self esteem and respect for their healthy, mental, emotional and spiritual. I know that I lack some of that and fell prey to alcohol use throughout my life.
No campaign has not been effective, and the moneis used for the program need to be funneled back into community coalitions who create strategic plans and need seed funds to have community policing parties, block parties for neighborhoods and other activities for people to build effective coalitions. Also acknowledge those who do volunteer to take leadership roles....it is part of the program.
A good organization to check into that is doing this is in Lacey, Washington called TOGETHER!. Check it out!
- Child Protective services fails miserably in removing children from abusive drug filled homes - family unity is their goal at the expense of children who are made to remain - all a parent has to do is attend classes and the children must remain as the parents continue to abuse and neglect them which leads to children taking drugs and having no hope. It is time that CPS rethinks their goal of family unity, which is not and has not worked for years! We have so many children on drugs because they live in drug filled homes and are left there by CPS - If we don't start having ZERO TOLERANCE for parents who abuse and neglect their children the cycle of abuse and neglect will go on to the next generation - CPS is the problem and children lose hope and turn to drugs. Parents must have consequences when the abuse and neglect children - simply making them attend classes isn't working! All the focus on marijuana should be moved to harder, actually dangerous drugs like ice and alcohol.
- Drugs are a big problem in the Big Island, but we have it all wrong. Ice is a huge problem that is getting out of control. There has only been a 6% rehab success rate from people who have ever tried the drug. It is easily manufactured in homes, which makes it readily available. If we can stop it at its source we may have a chance. Over counter drugs such as Ephedrine should be banned or obtained only through prescription. Ice also has been the major contributor to violent crime on the Island, ordinary citizens talk about carrying a handgun to protect themselves, something that can just spiral out of control. I believe that the increase in Ice use has a direct effect in the increase in Marijuana eradication. Many states in our country now realize that Marijuana is not as dangerous as once believed, many have started to decriminalize the drug. All walks of life, businessmen, political candidates, and everyday people use marijuana. It calms and sooth!
Yes, it does not lead to violence like Ice. If there was an effort to inform the public about Marijuana like we now have with tobacco, I believe use would naturally go down. Families need to take spend more time with their children and show that they care. We do not need to attack Marijuana, we need to attack the source of Ice production and promote stronger family values. Thank you.
- Forget the 'Rehab' stuff, this is a responsibility of the individual and family. If they commit the crime they should due the time.
- Why are they let loose back on the streets so soon after arrest? Comments: down here in kau, we all know who the drug dealers are and the cops don't really do anything about it. if they are arrested, they are back out on the streets in a matter of no time and it's business as usual. are the cops part of the problem?
- My comment is, you read about police arresting drug dealers, promoters, growers and the such. And then you will read, released pending further investigation. But you never read about someone charged, gone to court, gone to prison. It appears that no one goes to prison or at least the public never sees it. So the best thought in the minds of those that do, is do it. You wont go to jail for it. Island of Hawaii
- Poor police training
- Ice and cocaine are rampant on this island. I have a daughter addicted to ice, she has lost her children to cps. I am helpless in this situation as the accessibility to this drug is so easy. The police know the dealers and turn their head... We have to act and we have to do it now.. Eliminate the ice! Raise the consequences for possession and sale of it... Please help before we lose more of our youth/young adults to this terrible drug. There are many factors that have led to this problem, lack of jobs, cost of living expense, welfare cut backs, dysfunctional family history, lack of programs for youth. More police on drug patrol and less on traffic check points....Please HELP NOW!!!!!
- Police taking bribes, protecting drug houses. inre: Herkes presentation before legislature
Comments: I am a former paralegal who worked with Tony Hodges, founder of Life of the Land. I am published in Hawaii Reports (Ron Pray v. The Judicial Selection Commission). I am aware of the fact that the courts on Hawaii Island are in rebellion against civil rights of defendants. I sent governor Lingle info on 112 cases of denial of civil rights violations of speedy trial Amendment VI,Const.,US. Some cases 2 years old.(see State of Hawaii v. Connevey; case no.003986). The solution is to have sufficient sheriff deputies to serve process, not to violate constitutional rights enmass.See the Hawaii tribune herald report on the bringing of sheriff deputies due to a "backlog of cases" that service of process was in default. The court should have let these people go, not violate their right to a speedy trial then cash them out like money changers at the temple.
All these cases can be reversed by arresting the convictions and or through a writ of habeas corpus.
These cases are res judicata and should be reversed upon a writ of cert. I am in the process of rounding up lawyers to do just that.
Help me save the county tens of millions of dollars on lawsuits by having them resolve this titanic problem without further cover up and conspiracy to cover up. Please E-Mail meat:"ronaldpray" ponopcola@yahoo.com and I'll attach the court info for your examination.
ALSO NOTE:
You should speak with Mr. Herkes about possible pandemic police corruption pursuant to the drug trade on Hawaii Island.
QUESTION:
Why would the county police be so dead set against a fifth column of retired police officers as undercover drug enforcement cops?
Even some of the cops I spoke with on Oahu thought that was rather strange!
QUESTION:
How can you expect the people to respect the law when the courts surely do not and the police are acting suspicious? Are the cops smoking ice and taking bribes from ice dealers?
I have sent this information to the Governor, the state Attorney General, The Attorney General of the United States and the President of the United States.
I have received responses in the mail and will follow up.
MY ADVICE:
- First cleanup the counties act, putting its dirty laundry in the slammer, then proceed as an example to point finger at citizens who are corrupt and appropriately put them in the slammer as well! MALAMA PONO
- It is obvious I believe in a medical/social model to attack the source of the problem. I would want to see policing and sentencing tied into educational and caring frameworks.
- Comments: Real Alcohol and Drug education in the form of long term curriculum is necessary so that adolescents can form educated decisions.
- I guess there are no obvious easy answers to our drug dilemma. However, we need to keep our community informed of the few things we know that can deter drug abuse. To target the young children with programs that will prevent their curiosity and involvement with drugs is a very worthwhile project for us to get involved with. Please inform us of how ordinary citizens can help promote and support these efforts.
- Too much police effort goes into marijuana eradication !!!
- Preventative - learning about what needs are met by taking drugs and how could these same needs be met by doing something that contributes to life.
|
