2 days ago
Laced and lethal: Fentanyl, meth lead death toll
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Methamphetamine and fentanyl are the deadliest drugs on the streets today, according to Gary Yabuta, the executive director of Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area or HIDTA.
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But the danger doesn't stop there. Many illegal drugs are now laced with unknown mixtures, mystery cocktails that can kill in minutes.
Xylazine, bromazalam and kratom are emerging new drugs often mixed with other illicit drugs to intensify or prolong the high, according to Gary Yabuta, executive director for Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA).
'We're seeing a lot of cocktails out there,' Yabuta explained. 'Bromazalam is huge in the mainland. So we're having to keep a close eye on that.'
He said xylazine is already linked to seven overdose deaths in the state over the past two years.
But the biggest killers remain fentanyl and methamphetamine. They are the most lethal, driving the epidemic.'Those are our two biggest drug threats here in Hawaii,' Yabuta said. 'Methamphetamine (deaths) rose dramatically in 2024 and primarily here in the City and County of Honolulu, that's where we're seeing the increase. Meth is back, and its back very very strong.'
According to Yabuta, 260 deaths were linked to meth in 2024, compared to 222 the previous year. Fatalities jumped 26% on Oahu (142=2023 compared to 179=2024).
But overall, he said fentanyl overdose deaths dipped in 2024 (107 in 2023 compared to 103 in 2024). Only Oahu saw an uptick in overdose fatalities in 2024 (55 in 2023 compared to 70 in 2024).
'We're intercepting a lot of methamphetamine, a lot of fentanyl pills,' Yabuta explained. 'It's out there and we're just getting the tip of the iceberg. However, we're doing everything we can.'
The Hawaii Health Harm and Reduction Center works to combat substance abuse. Nikos Leverenz, HHHRC Policy Manager, said the statistics are sobering.
'We need to intensify harm reduction efforts and access to community-based treatment,' he said. 'Fundamentally, every overdose death is a policy failure.'
Leverenz said investing in outpatient community-based treatment can save lives.
'We're fortunate to have a governor who's a medical doctor who understands that prevention works, who understands that treatment works,' he added.
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But he said he worries about how potential funding cuts will impact their work and those struggling with addiction.
'It's certainly very foreseeable that if the federal government cuts funding for community-based drug treatment, then more people will overdose and more people will die. That's the bottom line.'
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