State and county officials will use a new technology to try to determine how widespread drug use is in public areas on Kaua'i.

The new ionic scanning technology, which picks up drug residue from walls, floors, ceilings and furniture, will be used in park restrooms, hotel rooms and other locations to document areas of heavy drug use as well as places that have been used as drug manufacturing sites.

"We'd like to involve as many businesses and hotels in the project as we can," said Keith Kamita, chief of the Narcotics Enforcement Division of the state Department of Public Safety. The division is working with the county's anti-drug office on the project.

The program, being used on Kaua'i before other islands, will help determine the extent of drug contamination in public areas, and will provide each of the participants with a confidential report on the facility tested.

Staff members will be trained in identifying contaminated areas.

For more information, call the county's anti-drug office at (808) 241-6312.