Big Island Group Addresses Alcohol, Drug Use
The Lt. Governor Aiona recently discussed the importance of addressing alcohol and drug use among pregnant women in Hawai`i, pointing to the potential threat to the health and development of newborn infants.
Lt. Governor Aiona delivers remarks at the Nature of Nurture event to discuss health care issues.
The issue was the central feature of the Lt. Governor’s remarks during a four-hour training at the State Capitol intended to promote ways to identify and prevent risky behavior during pregnancy.
Called “The Nature of Nurture: Drugs, Alcohol, Pregnancy and Parenting,” the event brought together health care professionals and others for a program that the Lt. Governor characterized as part of a "dedicated effort" to address an important health issue.
“This program is not only about presenting the straight facts and very real and often tragic and lifelong health and development consequences of prenatal use of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use on children,” Lt. Governor Aiona said, “it is about offering a vision of prevention and hope, and a roadmap to get there.”
The year-old program was organized by Baby Steps to Strong Big Island Families, an outreach group whose research-validated substance abuse among pregnant women prevention program was created by Ira Chasnoff, a nationally-known pediatrician and expert in child development.
