Hawaii Addiction Treatment and Info

Although substance abuse qualifies in nearly every metric as a national problem, it has especially affected several states, including but not limited to the state of Hawaii. Compared to rates of drug and alcohol use reported at the national level, the rates of the state are only slightly lower. It appears that amphetamines, heroin and alcohol are the most prevalent drugs in Hawaii.

Addiction in Hawaii

Hawaii has a population of 1.5 million residents, according to the US Census Bureau. It has beautiful, dramatic landscapes and sweeping beaches. These, as well as the accommodating temperate climate of the Hawaii Island chain belie the state's decades-long battle with drug abuse. Going as far back as the early 80s, Hawaii has had some significant problems with drug abuse.

Overall, Hawaii has substance abuse rates that are similar to those in the rest of the country. However, the landscape is different when the addiction ratios, as well as the ratio of lives destroyed by drug abuse are examined. The numbers are a lot higher compared to the rest of the country.

Hawaii has seen a rise in young people using drugs. In 2010, at 31.7%, Hawaii placed 4th in the country for high school students that were offered, sold or given an illegal substance on school property. In comparison, the national average was recorded at 24.3%.

Children in Hawaii as young as 10 years old were arrested for drug possession, with a total of forty one 10-12 year olds arrested. The numbers more than tripled for teens aged 14-17, with a total of 157 arrests.

Illicit drug use increased by over 6 times from 6th grade 12th grade (1.8% to 11.4%). Marijuana use and abuse increased by over 17 times in Hawaii from 6th grade to 12th grade (2.4% to 42.2%). Inhalant use increased by about 1.4 times from 6th grade to 12th grade (6.3% to 8.6%) and alcohol use increased from 15.6% to 72.4%.

The number of deaths in Hawaii where a driver was at the illegal drinking limit of 0.08 BAC saw a rise from 32% in 2001 to nearly 40% in 2010. Approximately 1 in 3 young drivers aged between 15 and 20 years (rounding out to 30%) who died in crashes had blood alcohol concentration levels of .01g/dL or higher.

In 2016, Hawaii averaged about 13 drug overdose fatalities per 100,000 people. A total of 191 lives were lost that year. At that time, the Island had the 12th lowest drug overdose mortality rate in the nation, something which has since changed.

Commonly Abused Substances in Hawaii

There are multiple substances which are used and abused in the state. However, some are more prevalent than others. The information that follows highlights the most common drugs here:

1. Alcohol

According to Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS), there were over 1,050 people who entered treatment for alcohol abuse. There was also an additional 1,080 who underwent treatment for alcohol combined with a secondary drug in 2010.

The rates of past year abuse or dependence on alcohol in Hawaii can be aptly described as being significantly variable over time. In 2005-2006 for instance, the rates for all age groups stood at or just below the national rates. The rates for individuals aged 12 to 17 were among the 10 lowest rates in the country.

The prevalence of alcohol use among youth in the island is lower when compared to youth in the entire country (29.1% vs. 44.7%, respectively), whereas the prevalence of alcoholism among adults is higher compared to adults nationwide (18.6% vs. 15.8%, respectively).

Alcohol consumption is the primary attributing factor for motor vehicle accidents in Hawaii. In 2001-05, out of 132 motor vehicle crashes attributed to alcohol consumption among persons aged 1-85+, there were 2 deaths among persons aged 10-14, 16 deaths among persons aged 15-19, and 18 deaths among persons aged 20-24.

2. Marijuana

According to Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 2010, marijuana is the most commonly cited drug among primary drug treatment admissions in Hawaii. There were about 2,050 people who attended rehab for marijuana addiction. Of this population, 64% were male and 36% were female. Unsurprisingly, given Hawaii's problems with underage drug abusers, the largest age group to be treated this year was 12-17 year olds at 72.8%.

3. Amphetamines

For people admitted into treatment, amphetamine addiction ranked second in the list of most commonly abused drugs. There were approximately 1,840 people who went to drug treatment, 63.8% of which were male and 36.2% female.

Methamphetamine use and abuse has been an issue for residents of Hawaii since as far back as the 1980s. More than 90% of it is crystal methamphetamine; a drug routinely smoked using a small glass pipe.

4. Heroin

In the year 2015, roughly 3,000 residents of Hawaii aged 12 and above had used Heroin both in that year and the previous one. The island has also seen a steady increase in overdose related deaths since 2013.

In 2016 alone, opioid related overdoses led to approximately 80 deaths. Several years earlier, in 2013, doctors prescribed opioids to approximately 51% of their patients. This number rightly seems high, but Hawaii had the lowest prescription rate in the country at the time.

5. Prescription Drugs

Roughly 250 people attended substance abuse treatment for opiates not inclusive of heroin in 2010. In the year 2017, there were 53 recorded drug overdose fatalities involving opioids— a rate of 3.4 deaths per 100,000 persons.

There has been no overall change in the number of overdose deaths involving prescription opioids in the last decade. As an example, there were a total of 40 overdose related deaths reported in 2017.

Drug Related Fatalities and Injuries in Hawaii

As a direct consequence of drug use and abuse, 142 persons died in Hawaii in 2007. This was higher than the total number of persons that died from vehicle accidents (136) and firearms (36) in that same year. Hawaii's drug-induced deaths (11.1 per 100,000 residents) were slightly lower than the national rate of 12.7 per 100,000 residents.

Hawaii has one of the lowest age-adjusted rates of substance overdose deaths that involve opioids. In 2017, there were 53 drug overdose deaths that involved opioids. This represented a rate of 3.4 deaths per 100,000 persons.

Ten deaths traceable to heroin overdose were reported in 2017 and much like those deaths involving prescription opioids, no significant variation has been seen since collection of data began in 2013.

Addiction Prevention in Hawaii

Hawaii offers several programs which are designed to curb the growing rates of substance abuse among the locals. Even more so, they are designed to effectively stifle the growing rates of underage drug and substance abuse among the residents. Some examples of these programs include:

a) Raising Awareness

This involves spreading information about substance use disorders and alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, stimulants, hallucinogens and opioids. There is an emphasis on the undesirable effects of these drugs, with the most devastating side effect being death.

b) Prevention Education

Here, critical life skills that may be missing are taught to residents. These life skills when properly imparted decrease a person's likelihood of turning to substance abuse as a means of escape.

c) Addiction Identification and Referral

This helps friends and family aptly recognize if a loved one requires help for a drug abuse disorder. It also depicts how to systematically get that help so that the person is rescued from his or her disorder and by extension, the issues stemming from it.

Hawaii is working overtime to raise awareness throughout the state and decrease the state's substance abuse rates. Prevention efforts reach out to families and communities statewide, and not just those who are considered high risk.

Addiction Treatment in Hawaii

In addition to the preventative programs in place, the state has a vast variety of addiction treatment and rehab programs available. These programs offer unique and highly personalized recovery services to admitted clients.

As per the Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) in 2010, there were a total of 6,618 people that attended a drug and alcohol substance abuse treatment facility in Hawaii. 65.5% of these admits were male and 34.5% were female.

Past year and past month rates of marijuana use have remained at or just above the national rates for all age groups in Hawaii. The rates of past month use and abuse of illicit drugs exclusive of marijuana have generally remained at or just below the national rates.

According to the 2006 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS), there were at least 105 facilities of drug and alcohol addiction treatment in Hawaii. Since 2006, this figure has gone up. 17 facilities offered some form of residential care and 3 had opioid treatment programs in place.

In the period of 2007-2008, Hawaii featured among the top 10 states for the largest percentage of 12+ year old persons using illicit drugs. Roughly 10 % of all Hawaiian residents reported past-month use of illicit drugs. In comparison, the national average stood at 8%.

Consider the following categories of substance abuse treatment and rehab services that are available in Hawaii:

i) Intervention Services

Professional interventions are often successful in convincing persons to seek addiction treatment. This is the general frame of intervention services: an interventionist meets with family and friends prior so as to guide the planning process and to then help to keep the conversation on track, on the day of the intervention.

They may also assist with the selection of an addiction treatment facility where the loved one can immediately seek treatment after the intervention. A pool of viable options is drawn up and it is then whittled down to the most viable one.

ii) Medical Detox

Substance abuse usually leads to physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. Drug and alcohol detox will allow the body to rid itself of alcohol and other drugs, with the ultimate result being the disintegration of any dependence. This allows the body to steadily return to normal functioning.

Once the drug or substance is withheld, withdrawal symptoms appear. Depending on the particular substance as well as the severity of the addiction, the withdrawal symptoms may range from harsh headaches and cramps to life-threatening seizures. Medical care is requisite so as to keep the patient safe and sufficiently supported as the body adjusts to sobriety.

iii) Inpatient Addiction Treatment

In a typical residential drug rehab program, clients take part in treatment and group activities on a full time basis. They live onsite for the complete duration of treatment. The inpatient addiction treatment centers in Hawaii offer therapy as well as round-the-clock support. They also provide opportunities for clients to sufficiently socialize with other patients who are also going through treatment.

iv) Outpatient Addiction Treatment

Clients taking part in outpatient drug rehab programs in Hawaii attend a schedule of counseling sessions and other meetings. They usually last for three or more hours per day, for three or more days per week. In the evenings, clients return home or to a sober living facility.

v) Sober Living Programs

Sober living facilities in the state offer a safe environment for patients as they continue on their path to full recovery. Residents have to follow house rules regarding curfew times as well as shared household responsibilities. Every once in a while, they may be required to participate in random drug tests.

The sober living programs of Hawaii provide an opportunity for people in the early recovery stage to experience elevated independence all while having direct access to a strong network of support.

Regardless of the drug rehab type you settle for, there is a high probability that you will find the following therapy kinds in place at the addiction recovery facility of your choice:

  • Individual and group counseling sessions
  • Life skill-building exercises
  • Recreational therapy
  • Family care services
  • 12-step and non-12 support groups
  • Addiction education
  • Aftercare programs
  • Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Alumni programs
  • Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Complementary therapies, including equine therapy, yoga, meditation, biofeedback, massage therapy, and journaling
  • Coping techniques
  • Couples counseling
  • Detox programs
  • Dialectical behavior therapy
  • Exercise therapy
  • Family therapy
  • Group therapy meetings
  • Individual counseling
  • Inpatient programs
  • Intensive outpatient programs
  • Intervention services
  • Life skills training
  • Nutritional therapy
  • Outpatient programs
  • Relapse prevention
  • Sober living homes
  • Stress management
  • Vocational training

Getting Help

As soon as you realize that you are having problems with drug and substance use, the recommendation is that you check yourself into a rehab program. The earlier you access a Hawaii rehab program and begin treatment, the higher your chances of completely readjusting to sobriety and normal function are.

CITATIONS

https://afmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/OADAP_SEOW-2017-State-Report-Book_v3.3PRINT.pdf

https://ag.hawaii.gov/cpja/ccp/substance-abuse-prevention/data/

https://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA17-BAROUS-16/SMA17-BAROUS-16-HI.pdf

https://www.carnevaleassociates.com/our-work/emerging-drug-trends-prevention-issue-brief.html

https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html

https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2018-11/DIR-032-18%202018%20NDTA%20final%20low%20resolution.pdf

https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids/opioid-summaries-by-state/hawaii-opioid-summary

https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/news-statistics/emerging-drug-trends

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK234579/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3118030/

https://www.shadac.org/publications/50-state-analysis-drug-overdose-trends-evolving-opioid-crisis-across-states

https://www.unodc.org/documents/wdr/WDR_2010/2.0_Drug_statistics_and_Trends.pdf


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