Hawaii Drug Problem Essay

Drugs are a common problem here in Hawaii for many years now. The National Drug Intelligence center calls ice methamphetamine the greatest drug threat to Hawaii followed by marijuana, cocaine, heroin and the abuse of prescription drugs. The estimated range of ice meth users is anywhere from 8,000 to 120,000 out of the 1.2 million people. About 37.4 percent of men jailed in Honolulu are tested positive for methamphetamine in their system. The state authorities arrest an average of 1,500 people per year for marijuana-related offenses, who can then face a $1,000 fine and up to a month in jail. The trafficking and abuse of meth and marijuana account for most of the drug problem here in our state. They also contribute to the majority of violent and property crimes occurring. Hawaii’s huge illegal black economy doesn’t make the problem any better, draining hundred of millions of dollars every year from the regular economy - not to mention the overcrowding of prisons. These factors and much more are what makes Hawaii face these difficulties against reducing the usages of illegal drugs.

If nothing is done to resolve
Lawmakers have created a joint House-Senate committee to construct an attack plan. A special police unit has been established and communities are holding meetings and anti-drug rallies. I believe that the answer to solving this problem lies in the Portuguese. The country had dealt with their drug problem by locking up or finding the dealers. Anybody caught with less than 10 days worth can either face treatment, a small fine, or no punishment. Most people get referred to a counseling. This system has been successfully in Portugal and has brought drug use and the rate of drug-related death down overall. Unfortunately, no US state has tried this style of eliminating drugs before. It could help the state of Hawaii drop the use of drugs just like it did for the