Profiles
In Courage
Power Of Choice - Hamakua
“A Healthy Community Is A Drug Free Community”
 Recognition
This month
we are pleased to feature one of our partners, Marsha Valenzuela. She
has been an important member of our team in creating ways to help create
a healthy drug free Hamakua. Marsha strongly believes that success in
preventing youth substance abuse comes about through the collective
efforts of schools, parents and the community.
Marsha
recently was the Parent Community Networking Coordinator for Honoka’a
High and Intermediate School. She will be starting a new assignment
at Waimea Elementary School in the coming school year. Other endeavors
include working as a community advocate for Hale Kipa Inc., a culturally
sensitive agency that provides assistance to local families, and Family
and Schools Together (F.A.S.T.), a program which focuses on family relationships
and communication.
Her personal
interests include camping, traveling, and most of all her family which
includes her husband of 28 years, Ernest Sr., and three children Ernest
Jr., Erwin and Ermalyn. Erwin is currently on duty with the Hawaii National
Guard 29th Brigade in Iraq. We all hope that he returns safely to his
family soon.
Thank you
Marsha for your contributions of time and energy to the community.
Drug
Free Bash
Coming
off a successful program in June at the Laupahoehoe Swimming Pool, the
Hamakua Drug Free Committee pulled off another one at Paauilo Park on
July 28. It was a time to just have fun with celebrating healthy drug
free families as the theme. Activities included games, a fashion show,
Billy Kenoi of the Mayor’s Office who spoke about the importance
of families and community, a movie and, of course, all the food that
they could eat. The Hamakua Drug Free Committee’s activities are
partially supported by Power of Choice-Hamakua. You can get more information
about upcoming events by contacting Vance Fujii at 775-7533.
 Mentors
Needed
Here is
an opportunity to possibly make a difference in someone’s life.
Every young
person has potential. As a mentor you can help unleash it! The Ohana
Mentor Network, sponsored by Hawaii Community College, is seeking caring
people to volunteer 6 hours a month to become mentors for Hamakua youth.
A mentor serves as a role model to help a younger person make positive
choices about his/her education and role in the community.
A recent
poll of 400 high school students with mentors showed that:
73% raised their goals and expectations
87% went to college or planned to attend college
59% improved their grades
87% benefited from the relationship
Please
contact Allen Salavea for more information at 756-6709 or e-mail him
at allen@hawaii.edu.
RX
Drugs
Much has
been said about the dangers of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs including
crystal methamphetamine (ICE). Not often talked about and sometimes
difficult to recognize is addiction to prescription drugs.
A survey
conducted locally by a federal agency indicates that RX drug dependence
and abuse in North Hawaii greatly exceeds the State and National norms.
The law
requires controlled RX drugs be monitored by physicians and pharmacists.
They are normally prescribed for a number of reasons including pain
control, depression, and anxiety. The three categories of these drugs
are opiates, depressants, and stimulants.
Examples
of opiates are OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet. Depressants include
such drugs as Zoloft and Xanax. Ritalin and Adderall fall into the stimulant
category.
High risk
age groups include the elderly. They may have difficulty with the directions
on the bottle such as dosage amount and the frequency to take the medication.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, females are twice
as likely to become addicted as men. Specifically, females age 12-17
and 18 to 25 have shown the largest increase in prescription drug abuse.
Unfortunately, painkillers and tranquilizers are one of the most popular
drugs used by young women.
Common
symptoms include hiding pills and obsessively counting them, unnecessary
emergency room visits and “doctor shopping”, falsifying
prescriptions, and changes in behavior.
RX drug
dependence and addiction is dangerous. Medical intervention is necessary.
Help is available in Honoka’a by calling the Lokahi Treatment
Centers at 775-7707 or Hamakua Health Center at 775-7204.
Words
to Inspire
We’ll
close with this quote from Blane Gaison, a former pro football player
and graduate of Kamehameha School and the University of Hawaii, Manoa.
“The choices that I made in the past put me where I am today,
and the choices and the attitudes that I make today will determine where
I go tomorrow. I’ve always wanted to be the very best that I could
be. In order for me to do that I have to make the right choices. Every
morning you get up, you have choices. I’m not interested in what
I’ve done. I’m interested in where I’m going.”
Power of
Choice-Hamakua meetings provide an opportunity for Hamakua group representatives
and anyone interested in sharing their thoughts on ways to create healthy
drug free communities. Our mission is two fold, (1) to help create alcohol
drug free activities, and (2) to provide a place for partnerships and
cooperative efforts. Feel free to call Joel Cohen at 775-1306 for more
information. He can also be contacted at jcohen8@hawaii.rr.com or by snail mail to P.O. Box 807, Honoka’a 96727.
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