Pubdate: Fri, 20 Mar 2009
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)
Copyright: 2009 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Contact: http://starbulletin.com/forms/letterform.html
Website: http://www.starbulletin.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/196
Author: Rida Cabanilla
Note: Rida Cabanilla, a Democrat, represents Ewa, Waipahu and 
Honouliuli in the state House. She is chairwoman of the Housing Committee.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration)

SECURE TREATMENT WOULD ALLOW DRUG OFFENDERS SECOND CHANCE

Drug addiction has led to a proliferation of repeat criminal 
offenders in Hawaii, creating an unsafe environment for our families. 
Many of the drugs in circulation today, especially methamphetamine - 
commonly known as "ice" - are highly addictive and can't adequately 
be treated by community-based methods such as psychotherapy or 
12-step programs. This is why I introduced House Bill 358, promoting 
a secure drug treatment option. As an ex-drug addict testified before 
the House Committee on Finance, "Drug addicts are stuck in a cycle of 
delusion. Similar to temporary insanity, there is simply no logic to 
their actions. They'll do anything to get drugs. Most addicts commit 
crimes to feed their habit - crimes that stop when they become sober."

Because we are using jails as warehouses for drug offenders, the cost 
of incarceration is skyrocketing and prisons are becoming 
overcrowded. The United States has the highest per-capita number of 
incarcerated citizens of any country in the world. Sixty percent of 
male and 80 percent of female inmates in Hawaii prisons are 
incarcerated because of nonviolent drug-related offenses. We need to 
utilize a more proactive approach to deal with this public health pandemic.

HB 358 calls for a "secure drug treatment facility," preferably 
modeled after the nationally recognized Second Chance program of New 
Mexico. This program has four modules. The first module helps 
offenders gain self-respect and life skills such as communication, 
self-control and behavioral modification. Most drug addicts do not 
have communicative and expressive skills, which causes frustration 
and can lead to drug abuse. The second module involves physical 
detoxification and health restoration. The third module improves 
employment skills, and the final module works on restoring faith and 
family reintegration.

There are numerous examples of drug addicts, even after sentencing, 
committing violent crimes - killing innocent people who were in the 
wrong place at the wrong time. Law enforcement and health 
professionals must collaborate to alleviate this serious problem. A 
secured drug treatment center is a facility employing security 
protocols modeled after a minimum-security detention center, 
including continuous direct supervision.

I have spoken to ex-inmates who described emotionally abusive 
treatment in Hawaii's prisons. There also are many reports of illicit 
drug availability. Exposure of vulnerable addicts to the same abusive 
environment and accessibility of drugs in prison as on the streets 
yields high recidivism rates.

It is also extremely important for vulnerable people, such as teenage 
girls, to have a safe haven for treatment, away from drug pushers and pimps.

HB 358 is broad in its guidelines so as to allow social service and 
judicial professionals the latitude to tailor it to the specific 
needs of their clientele.

A secured drug treatment facility costs less and is more effective 
than incarceration for reducing recidivism. Studies have shown that 
mandated drug treatments has as high a success rate as does 
voluntary. Keeping drug addicts in a secured environment, to ensure 
that they remain clean and sober while they engage in treatment, will 
prevent them from harming society. Alternative programs that include 
house arrest or curfew using electronic monitoring devices and 
surveillance, programs of regimental discipline and court monitoring 
such as Drug Court also might be helpful.

Drug abuse is at heart a community health concern. If treated as 
such, it doesn't need to become a criminal concern. Let's treat this 
problem at its roots. Let's protect our ohana from harm.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom