28-03-2025
Hawaii fentanyl deaths quadrupled in 4 years, experts warn of more potent version
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Fentanyl is considered one of the most dangerous and deadly drugs in the world.
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One island said it's seeing a decrease in overdoses while another is seeing a slight uptick.
Experts said in the last four years Fentanyl use has exploded in Hawaii.
'It was so bad about two years ago that we're seeing five overdoses a day sometimes or more,' said Dr. James Ireland, Honolulu Emergency Medical Services Director.
'Not just in Chinatown, but throughout Oahu neighborhoods, hotel rooms, illegal game rooms,' he added.
In 2023, two people died and three others were hospitalized after a suspected unintentional overdose at a Waikiki hotel.
'What they thought was cocaine, turned out to be fentanyl,' said Gary Yabuta, executive director at Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.
'It's the perfect example, an unfortunate example, of how things can go wrong if you're taking any substance you don't know about,' he added.
Hawaii island police said it's seen an uptick in fentanyl-related cases since the realignment of its vice narcotics division several months ago.
The vice division captain said the division allows them to move on cases and make decisions faster.''Sixty- percent of the state's fentanyl from about November 2021, through early 2024 was recovered in west Hawaii island,' said Capt. Edwin Buyten, Hawaii Island Police vice division.
He said fentanyl is being laced with heroin, oxycontin, cocaine and marijuana.
'It's very dangerous, when you do that you're playing with fire,' he added.
A few years ago, a teenager on Hawaii Island died from a fentanyl overdose after consuming a different drug.
Since 2020, fentanyl related deaths in the state have quadrupled.
In 2020, the state had 26 deaths; in 2021 there were 48 fentanyl-related deaths; in 2022 there were 79 and in 2023 there were 107.
Yabuta said Maui had the most deaths in 2023.
Honolulu EMS said high profile cases like the Waikiki overdose, on top of accessibility of Narcan have helped bring numbers down.
'Today we're seeing maybe one overdose a day or maybe one every couple of days,' Dr. Ireland said.
But a more powerful form of fentanyl has reached Hawaii's shores. Experts warn it's 100 times stronger and claimed one life in 2024.
'You've seen 20 pounds of Carfentanil seized by our law enforcement here in Hawaii, that's enough to kill every citizen or resident in the City and County of of Honolulu, that's how powerful it is,' Yabuta explained.
He said social media education and accessibility to drug rehab facilities is needed to help combat the problem.
'If your family or friends are struggling with this, get help, there's lots of different resources in the community because people can beat this. They can get off, they can get back to kind of a normal life because there is still a risk of overdose with any narcotic or mistaken identity,' explained Dr. Ireland.
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Yabuta said it's imperative that all law enforcement teams work together. 'We have to target drug traffickers, we have to arrest them, we have to prosecute them, and incarcerate them so we can stop them from selling their poison that's killing our children and people.'
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