STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1-08

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2008

RE:   H.B. No. 2023

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2008

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Health, to which was referred H.B. No. 2023 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO DRUG ADDICTION TREATMENT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to improve and expand treatment options for people addicted to crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice", by establishing a crystal methamphetamine treatment pilot study at the Hina Mauka treatment and rehabilitation facility in consultation with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) to examine the effectiveness of the drug Vivitrol as a treatment option for "ice" addiction.

     Hina Mauka supported this bill.

     Your Committee finds that recent events, including the murder of a one-year old toddler by a person reported to be allegedly high on "ice" have provided strong evidence of the horrible effects this drug is having on our society.  Every effort must be made to combat this epidemic in drug abuse and the violence it elicits.  A two-year pilot program in a controlled environment such as Hina Mauka in cooperation with JABSOM to design and prepare medical policies and procedures to form an effective treatment strategy using the drug Vivitrol is one step the Legislature can take in fighting "ice" and helping the people addicted to it.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2023 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health,

____________________________

JOSHUA B. GREEN, M.D., Chair