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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
80 |
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THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII TO PLACE AN EMPHASIS ON STATEWIDE DRUG AND ALCOHOL TREATMENT PROGRAMS.
WHEREAS, drug and alcohol abuse is a public health issue; and
WHEREAS, drug and alcohol abuse issues intersect with many other issues in the community including homelessness, violence in the home, incarceration, property crime, foster care, judiciary costs, health care, employment, and after-school programs; and
WHEREAS, a report published in 2015 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration revealed that in Hawaii, about seventy-eight thousand individuals aged twelve years or older per year in 2013 to 2014 were dependent on or abused alcohol during the year prior to being surveyed, and about twenty-six thousand individuals aged twelve years or older per year in 2013 to 2014 were dependent on or abused illicit drugs in the year prior to being surveyed; and
WHEREAS, according to the same report, among individuals aged twelve years or older with alcohol dependence or abuse, about 7.5 percent per year from 2010 to 2014 received treatment for their alcohol use, 92.5 percent did not; and
WHEREAS, the same report also revealed that, among individuals aged twelve or older with illicit drug dependence or abuse, about 14.4 percent per year from 2010 to 2014 received treatment for their illicit drug use, 85.6 percent did not; and
WHEREAS, according to a later report published in 2017 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, as of a single-day count in 2015 in Hawaii, 5,768 individuals were enrolled in substance use treatment, an increase from 4,464 individuals in 2011; and
WHEREAS, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) of the Department of Health reported that state and federal funds expended for ADAD funded treatment services decreased from about $18,000,000 in fiscal year 2015 to about $16,000,000 in fiscal year 2017 and about half of the total funds were spent on services for Native Hawaiians; and
WHEREAS, in 2012 and years prior, many drug and alcohol treatment centers in Hawaii closed due to funding cutbacks, leaving a significant number of people unable to receive affordable drug and alcohol treatment; and
WHEREAS, extensive studies have shown that drug and alcohol treatment saves $4 in health care costs for every $1 spent for treatment; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, the House of Representatives concurring, that the State is urged to place an emphasis on statewide drug and alcohol treatment programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Director of Health, and Director of Human Services.
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OFFERED BY: |
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Statewide Drug and Alcohol Treatment; Programs