Young drug addicts on Kauai seeking inpatient treatment soon might be able to stay close to home.
ON THE RISE
Adolescents who entered the Kauai Juvenile Drug Court Program:
>> 2006-2007: 5
>> 2007-2008: 10
>> 2008-2009: 12
>> 2009-2010: 18
Source: Kauai County Anti-Drug Coordinator Theresa Koki
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Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. recently selected a 5.7-acre parcel directly behind the former Immaculate Conception School in Lihue to construct an adolescent residential drug treatment facility.
The parcel, owned by Grove Farm, is on agricultural and open-zoned land. Plans are underway to hire a consultant to conduct an environmental assessment.
Kauai has been without a residential drug treatment facility since 1992, when Serenity House shut down following Hurricane Iniki.
In 2007, plans to construct a 16-bed adolescent drug treatment center in Hanapepe folded after the Office of the Hawaiian Affairs protested against the location, according to the Hawaii Free Press. OHA said runoff from the facility would potentially harm ancient salt ponds in the area.
Experts say drug abuse is a growing problem, with more addicts turning to prescription drugs, which can be fatal. The number of adolescents entering the Kauai Juvenile Drug Court Program more than tripled within a four-year period ending in 2010.
Outpatient programs are available on Kauai, but officials say a residential treatment center is needed for youth with a serious drug addiction.
Due to the lack of a treatment center, approximately six adolescents from Kauai are sent off-island every year for residential treatment, according to the 2008-2013 Kauai Community Drug Response Plan. While the number of beds has yet to be determined, the report recommends 12 beds for a youth treatment facility.
A treatment center based in Kauai would be effective for young addicts because treatment off-island means separation from families and being placed on a waiting list because of the limited number of beds available.
"Sometimes they have to wait for months," said Dr. Greg McKenna, medical director of the McKenna Recovery Center in Lihue, which provides outpatient drug treatment for youth.
Only two residential treatment facilities are available for youth in the state: the Bobby Benson Center and the Marimed Foundation, both on Oahu. Sometimes, youth seek treatment on the mainland.
"If they stay on (the) island, they will have family support, and re-entry or re-integration transition will be easier," said Kauai County Anti-Drug Coordinator Theresa Koki. She added that some youth simply don’t seek treatment because they cannot afford to go off-island.
Kauai Police Chief Darryl Perry supports the idea of a treatment facility.
Perry, who worked undercover and served as captain and major of the Honolulu Police Department’s Narcotics/Vice Division during the 1990s, said he continues to see young people harmed by drugs.
"Residential treatment is sorely needed for those that have a serious drug addiction and serious problems at home," said Perry.
He said some families approach him when he is off duty inquiring about where they can send their son or daughter for drug treatment.
But not everyone favors the proposed location.
The Rev. William Shannon of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church questions whether the site is suitable.
"I don’t have a security concern. My wonderment is practical," he said.
He questioned whether agricultural and open-zoned land is ideal for a residential treatment center.
"There’s a lot of unanswered questions," said Shannon.
