Pubdate: Mon, 14 Jun 2010
Source: Honolulu Star-Advertiser (HI)
Copyright: 2010 Star Advertiser
Contact: 
http://www.staradvertiser.com/info/Star-Advertiser_Letter_to_the_Editor.html
Website: http://www.staradvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5154	
Author: Mary Vorsino
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

STATE 'ICE' DATA CHILLING

The Number of People Seeking Help for Crystal Meth Addiction Is Rising

The crystal meth epidemic may have eased, but it is far from over, 
substance abuse treatment providers say, pointing to state figures 
that show most adult admissions to treatment centers in the islands 
continue to be for "ice" and that the number of people seeking help 
for crystal meth addictions rose last year.

The number of adults who entered state-funded drug treatment centers 
for crystal meth addictions increased to 3,536 last fiscal year, up 
about 19 percent from fiscal year 2008 and 8 percent from fiscal year 2007.

Officials attributed some of that spike to new programs that targeted 
crystal meth addicts, but said the higher number is still worrisome.

Alan Johnson, chief executive officer and president of Hina Mauka and 
chairman of the Hawaii Substance Abuse Coalition, said the crystal 
meth epidemic might not be as bad as it was about five years ago, 
when the state's ice problem was among the worst in the nation.

But at a time when state funding cuts mean treatment centers have 
fewer resources for clients, providers want to remind the public the 
ice problem is still a significant one.

He said of the 1,500 adults who sought treatment at Hina Mauka last 
year, about 40 percent were addicted to crystal meth.

"That's the lion's share" of admissions, he said.

Statewide, 45.5 percent of state-funded adult admissions to treatment 
centers were for crystal meth in fiscal year 2009, higher than the 
40.9 percent in the previous fiscal year but down from a four-year 
high of 49.6 percent in fiscal year 2006.

Meanwhile, 32.6 percent of state-funded adult admissions were for 
alcohol last fiscal year, and 11.5 percent were for marijuana.

Johnson said one of the difficulties with crystal meth is that 
addicts often need more intensive treatment compared with those 
recovering from addictions to other drugs or alcohol. He said 30-day 
treatment programs turn into 60-day programs for crystal meth addicts.

Keith Yamamoto, chief of the state Health Department's Alcohol and 
Drug Abuse Division, said the admission figures help guide state 
policy, including where money for treatment is funneled.

"This data helps us understand the problem and the degree and the 
direction," said Yamamoto. "We want to always make sure that our 
approach .. (is) a balanced approach."

The division got about $19.4 million in state funds last fiscal year 
for treatment services, down from the $21.4 million in state funds in 
fiscal year 2008, according to reports to the Legislature.

Funding for prevention remained about the same over the last two 
years - at about $5.1 million.

Yamamoto pointed out that it is important to note that adults and 
minors have different addiction risks.

Among those 18 and under, the drug of choice is not crystal meth, but 
marijuana.

Some 52.8 percent of minors entering division-funded treatment 
programs sought help for marijuana use (from 58.5 percent in fiscal 
year 2006), while 40 percent sought treatment for alcohol use (up 
from 34.3 percent in 2006).

Just 0.3 percent sought help for crystal meth addictions, a figure 
that dropped from 2.5 percent in fiscal year 2006.

Yamamoto said alcohol abuse among minors in particular is a growing 
concern. Recent surveys showed more minors are turning to alcohol, 
and he said he expected the number of minors seeking help for alcohol 
addiction to continue to grow in coming years.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom