REPORT TITLE:
Substance Abuse Intervention


DESCRIPTION:
Requires DOE to develop a 3-year pilot substance abuse
intervention program for students in middle, intermediate, and
high school in Hawaii that takes into account the criticisms of
the D.A.R.E. program as well as the successes of drug prevention
programs in other states.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        2047 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

RELATING TO EDUCATION.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that 54.3 per cent of the
 
 2 graduating class of 1997 had used an illicit drug by the time
 
 3 they reached the senior year of high school, as compared to 40.7
 
 4 per cent in 1992.  In Hawaii, a 1998 study showed an increase in
 
 5 illegal drug use for tenth and twelfth graders.  The legislature
 
 6 also finds that a comprehensive six-year study of the D.A.R.E.
 
 7 drug prevention program in schools, carried out by Dennis
 
 8 Rosenbaum of the criminal justice department of the University of
 
 9 Illinois, showed that the program has no beneficial effects on
 
10 drug abuse among the program's target students while spending
 
11 $220,000,000 alone in tax money last year.  The D.A.R.E. program
 
12 actually seemed to have had an adverse effect on drug use in
 
13 suburban communities.  However, another study from Ohio State
 
14 University concluded that the D.A.R.E. program does work, but
 
15 only if students are given additional anti-drug classes through
 
16 high school.  There is also evidence from the states of
 
17 California and Washington suggesting that drug abuse prevention
 
18 programs in high schools have reduced use among students and
 
19 improved academic performance.
 

 
Page 2                                                     2047 
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      The purpose of this Act is to develop an effective substance
 
 2 abuse intervention program for students in middle, intermediate,
 
 3 and high schools in Hawaii that takes into account the criticisms
 
 4 of the D.A.R.E. program as well as the successes of drug
 
 5 prevention programs in other states.
 
 6      SECTION 2.  (a)  The department of education, assisted by
 
 7 the department of health and the respective police departments of
 
 8 the several counties, shall develop a three-year pilot substance
 
 9 abuse intervention program aimed at students in middle,
 
10 intermediate, and high schools in Hawaii.  The department of
 
11 education shall take into account the findings of relevant
 
12 studies on the effectiveness of the existing D.A.R.E. program in
 
13 Hawaii and successful drug abuse prevention programs in middle,
 
14 intermediate, and high schools in other states including
 
15 Washington and California.  The program shall encourage
 
16 acceptance, respect, understanding, and a willingness to help
 
17 other classmates solve their problems, enhance self-esteem,
 
18 improve decision making and communication skills, and improve
 
19 students' ability to manage stress, anger, and depression.
 
20      (b)  The department of education shall begin implementation
 
21 of the program no later than September 30, 2000.
 
22      (c)  The department of education shall submit two interim
 
23 progress reports to the legislature by May 31, 2001 and May 31,
 

 
Page 3                                                     2047 
                                     H.B. NO.           
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 2002, and a final report no later than twenty days prior to the
 
 2 convening of the regular session 2003.
 
 3      SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval and
 
 4 shall be repealed on June 30, 2003.
 
 5 
 
 6                           INTRODUCED BY: ________________________