Appropriates funds for DOH, in coordination with DOE, to establish a substance abuse prevention and education program in public secondary schools.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that adolescent substance abuse continues to be a significant problem affecting the youth of Hawaii. Student leaders at the 2005 Secondary Student Conference passed a resolution advocating for an effective drug and alcohol awareness program in public secondary schools statewide. According to researchers at the University of Hawaii, "Student substance abuse is related to a number of negative outcomes at school including academic difficulties, lack of motivation, and interpersonal violence."

In its 2003 Hawaii Student Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug Use Study, the department of health estimated that seven per cent or over sixty-five hundred public school students in grades six through twelve need treatment for substance abuse. The study recommended strengthening substance abuse prevention in schools and noted that a comprehensive substance abuse prevention program must begin no later than the fourth grade and should continue through high school. The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program is the predominant drug prevention program in Hawaii's public schools. However, DARE traditionally focuses on younger students and is not taught to older secondary school students.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds to establish a statewide substance abuse prevention and education program in public secondary schools.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2006-2007, for the department of health, in coordination with the department of education, to establish a statewide substance abuse prevention and education program in public secondary schools.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of health for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2006.