Hawaii Drug Rehab and Alcohol Rehabilitation Treatment Centers and Programs
Despite its location on major world trade routes and the millions of tourists who often bring illicit drugs along with them, Hawaii ranks below national averages for both alcohol and drug abuse. Though Hawaii boasts a population of over a million people, there were fewer than 7,000 admissions to drug and alcohol treatment centers in Hawaii in 2007—a nice testament to the powerful pull of Hawaii’s other attractions! But fun and sun aside, the drug problem that does afflict Hawaii is serious, for it is dominated by crystal meth, highly addictive, readily available, and difficult to treat.
As in most states, methamphetamine use in Hawaii began a steep climb in the early years of the new millennium, marked by an explosion of home-grown meth labs and ramped-up production in Mexico and California. Hawaiian drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities note that meth admissions have contributed greatly to the doubling of drug-only admissions for treatment since 1992. In 2007 alone, meth accounted for over 31% of all admissions to Hawaiian treatment centers.
Another troubling trend related to meth that should give parents pause is the fact that among all Hawaiian schoolchildren, more younger students had tried meth than older students. This is of particular concern, both because of the highly addictive nature of methamphetamine, and because study after study nationwide concludes that very high percentages of lifetime drug and alcohol habits begin with exposure in adolescence. The younger a child is introduced to drugs or alcohol, the greater the chances of dependency developing over time.
Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
State of Hawaii Profile of Drug Indicators
August 2008
As of 2006, there were 105 drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Hawaii combating the problem of substance abuse. Eighty percent of those were private nonprofit treatment facilities, while 12 operated for-profit. As in most states, only a few rehabilitation centers in Hawaii are owned and operated by the state government, although 87% of all Hawaiian drug and alcohol treatment centers receive public funding. This extends their availability to the state’s residents through referrals from doctors, hospitals, and health care organizations.
Despite this fairly widespread net of care facilities, Hawaiian residents should take care when choosing a program. Drug and alcohol treatment in Hawaii does not follow a single pattern. Most services are provided on an outpatient basis. People seeking residential care have a choice of 17 facilities located in the islands; otherwise they must look out of state for such treatment programs. Likewise, residents suffering from addiction to heroin or prescription opiates may not find the type of program they were looking for in their local area. Just three treatment centers in Hawaii offered opioid treatment in 2006, and only 37 doctors and 7 programs were certified to administer buprenorphine, which is used as a substitute drug in treating opiate addiction, much like methadone. The majority of Hawaiian drug and alcohol treatment centers do not use medication for addiction treatment, so those seeking such programs must evaluate all options and decide whether alternative treatments may be equally effective for their problem.
Despite its location on major world trade routes and the millions of tourists who often bring illicit drugs along with them, Hawaii ranks below national averages for both alcohol and drug abuse. Though Hawaii boasts a population of over a million people, there were fewer than 7,000 admissions to drug and alcohol treatment centers in Hawaii in 2007—a nice testament to the powerful pull of Hawaii’s other attractions! But fun and sun aside, the drug problem that does afflict Hawaii is serious, for it is dominated by crystal meth, highly addictive, readily available, and difficult to treat.
As in most states, methamphetamine use in Hawaii began a steep climb in the early years of the new millennium, marked by an explosion of home-grown meth labs and ramped-up production in Mexico and California. Hawaiian drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities note that meth admissions have contributed greatly to the doubling of drug-only admissions for treatment since 1992. In 2007 alone, meth accounted for over 31% of all admissions to Hawaiian treatment centers.
Another troubling trend related to meth that should give parents pause is the fact that among all Hawaiian schoolchildren, more younger students had tried meth than older students. This is of particular concern, both because of the highly addictive nature of methamphetamine, and because study after study nationwide concludes that very high percentages of lifetime drug and alcohol habits begin with exposure in adolescence. The younger a child is introduced to drugs or alcohol, the greater the chances of dependency developing over time.
Office of National Drug Control Policy, Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse
State of Hawaii Profile of Drug Indicators
August 2008
As of 2006, there were 105 drug and alcohol treatment facilities in Hawaii combating the problem of substance abuse. Eighty percent of those were private nonprofit treatment facilities, while 12 operated for-profit. As in most states, only a few rehabilitation centers in Hawaii are owned and operated by the state government, although 87% of all Hawaiian drug and alcohol treatment centers receive public funding. This extends their availability to the state’s residents through referrals from doctors, hospitals, and health care organizations.
Despite this fairly widespread net of care facilities, Hawaiian residents should take care when choosing a program. Drug and alcohol treatment in Hawaii does not follow a single pattern. Most services are provided on an outpatient basis. People seeking residential care have a choice of 17 facilities located in the islands; otherwise they must look out of state for such treatment programs. Likewise, residents suffering from addiction to heroin or prescription opiates may not find the type of program they were looking for in their local area. Just three treatment centers in Hawaii offered opioid treatment in 2006, and only 37 doctors and 7 programs were certified to administer buprenorphine, which is used as a substitute drug in treating opiate addiction, much like methadone. The majority of Hawaiian drug and alcohol treatment centers do not use medication for addiction treatment, so those seeking such programs must evaluate all options and decide whether alternative treatments may be equally effective for their problem.
