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DRUGS

Ice-related crimes are likely Hawaii's single most troubling social issue. In 2005, 46% of adult males arrested in our state tested positive for ice and over 82,000 people in Hawai‘i need treatment for substance abuse. I believe that we ought to treat drug abuse as a public health issue and provide treatment to fight addiction, while punishing those who profit from this heinous trade. I will continue to support and initiate legislation to fund drug prevention and treatment programs. I support the reform of mandatory minimum sentence rules that condemn many nonviolent drug offenders to long prison sentences without providing them access to avenues for rehabilitation and treatment programs.