Neighbor Island Drug-Free Coalitions Visit the Hill

Senator Mazie Hirono’s staff members with EHDFC Vice-Chair Camlyn Pola, Coordinator Sally Ancheta, Victoria Schlesinger, and Jasmine Castro.

In early February, members of the East Hawaiʻi Drug-Free Coalition had the honor of meeting with Hawaiʻi Senate staff from Senator Schatz’s and Senator Hirono’s offices while attending the 35th annual CADCA National Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. During this meeting, they discussed critical issues impacting our communities, including the ongoing battle against underage drinking and its far-reaching effects. 

One significant benefit of these meetings was the opportunity to thank the staff from Senator Schatz and Senator Hirono’s offices for supporting federal budget appropriations that help combat substance use problems in our state. The coalition’s Vice-Chair, Camlyn Pola, shared a key message with staffers: “Our coalition focuses on education and prevention through sharing our stories of the impact of drug and alcohol use on our personal lives and how we can make change through advocacy and policy efforts.”

The coalition’s partners and volunteers, along with Hale ‘Ōpiʻo Kauaʻi, met with the staff of Senators Schatz and Hirono to express appreciation for their support of prevention programs and funding.  Members of the Maui Coalition for Drug-Free Youth and Raquel Gali from the Salvation Army – Family Intervention Services met with Representatives Jill Tokuda and Ed Case, who shared their support for continued funding to prevent and reduce youth substance use across the islands.

We encourage everyone to join the coalition’s efforts to combat underage drinking and substance misuse. Whether you can volunteer your time or donate resources, every little bit helps. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by substance misuse. To learn more about the East Hawai’i Drug-Free Coalition, please visit ehdfc.org. To get involved, email Coalition Coordinator Sally Ancheta at sally@hiphi.org.