Pubdate: Wed, 01 Oct 2003 Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI) Copyright: 2003 Honolulu Star-Bulletin Contact: http://www.starbulletin.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196 Author: Andy Anderson Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n1345/a01.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Note: To read about the "ice epidemic" in Hawaii, go to http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Hawaii . LEADERS WILL CREATE COMPELLING DRUG PLAN I would like to congratulate and thank Governor Lingle and especially Lt. Governor Aiona for their leadership in convening the recent drug summit. What a great "new beginning" for our state and people. I've been blessed with the opportunity to live in our land of aloha for some 43 years, and am doubly blessed to have found my recovery from alcoholism here in 1961. I also have been a substance abuse professional for 37 years, and have never seen this kind of activism by the community, coverage by the press and response by government on the issues of drugs, alcoholism and addiction. The leadership this administration has brought to our state is awesome and compelling. I see a coalescence and collaboration developing that will bring a solution-focused plan to address drug addiction (including alcohol), thereby bringing in all the elements needed to help folks like me to get into recovery, whether through treatment, faith-based efforts or 12-step programs. This was an outstanding job of bringing a "new beginning" of hope for our addicted citizens. Mahalo nui loa. Andy Anderson CEO, Hina Mauka Kaneohe - --- MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk