Overall, Hawaii sees substance use rates similar to those in the rest of the country. But when it comes to addiction and lives destroyed by substance use, any number is too high.
Hawaii Statistics On Substance Use
Drug Overdoses
- In 2016, Hawaii averaged 12.8 drug overdose deaths per 100,000 people, losing a total of 191 lives that year.
- At that time, Hawaii had the twelfth-lowest drug overdose mortality rate nationwide.
Heroin And Opioid Use
- In 2015, an estimated 3,000 Hawaii residents ages 12 or older had used heroin in the prior year.
- Hawaii has seen an increase in heroin overdose deaths since 2013.
- In 2016, opioid-related overdoses caused 77 deaths.
- In 2013, doctors reportedly prescribed opioids to approximately 51 percent of their patients. While this number seems high, at this time Hawaii had the lowest opioid prescribing rate in the United States.
Hawaii Drug-Related Crime Rates
At almost 80 percent, the most substantial drug-related crime in Hawaii is connected to the production and sale of illicit methamphetamine. New strains of highly potent marijuana account for the second-largest drug-related crime threat to Hawaii. Indoor grow sites for marijuana are consistently the targets of invasion robberies and thefts.
How Hawaii Is Addressing Addiction
Hawaii primarily focuses its efforts on the prevention of substance use disorders. Hawaii’s addiction-prevention initiatives are a multi-pronged approach that includes:
- Raising awareness: Spreading information about substance use disorders and alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, stimulants, hallucinogens and opioids
- Prevention education: Teaching critical life skills that may be missing, decreasing a person’s likelihood of turning to substance use as a means of escape
- Addiction identification and referral: Helping friends and family members recognize if a loved one needs help for a substance use disorder, and how to get that help
Hawaii is working hard to raise awareness throughout the state and decrease the state’s substance use rates. Prevention efforts reach out to families and communities statewide, not just those who are considered high risk.
Additionally, the Alcohol and Drug Use Division of the Hawaii Department of Health funds 24 agencies that provide help to adults at 52 sites and an additional 10 agencies that assist youth at 107 locations. In 2014, Hawaii spent more than 17 million dollars in state and federal funds on substance use treatment services, helping more than 3,900 people.
Hawaii Addiction Treatment Programs
Substance use can lead to problems at work and home, trouble with the law and declining health. Addiction treatment programs offer many different services for those who are experiencing a substance use disorder. Addiction treatment services range in intensity and are designed to allow a client to progress through different levels of care.
High-quality programs in Hawaii provide individualized assessments, a professional diagnosis, counseling and relapse prevention training.
Intervention Services
Professional interventions are very successful in convincing a person to seek addiction treatment. An interventionist will meet with family and friends beforehand to guide the planning process and then help to keep the conversation on track on the day of the intervention. They can also assist with the selection of an addiction treatment facility where the loved one can immediately seek treatment after the intervention.
Drug And Alcohol Detoxification In Hawaii
Substance use often leads to physical dependence on drugs or alcohol. Drug and alcohol detox allows the body to rid itself of drugs and alcohol, breaking any dependence and allowing the body to begin to return to normal functioning.
Once the substance is withheld, withdrawal symptoms usually begin to appear. Depending on the substance and the severity of the addiction, withdrawal symptoms range from unpleasant headaches and muscle cramps to life-threatening seizures and coma. It is important to seek a medically supported detox program when possible. Medical care is often needed to keep the person safe and supported as their body adjusts to sobriety.
Hawaii Inpatient Addiction Treatment
In a residential drug rehab program, clients participate in treatment and group activities full time and live onsite for the duration of treatment. Hawaii Inpatient addiction treatment centers offer therapy and round-the-clock support and also provide opportunities for clients to socialize with others who are going through treatment.
Addiction treatment services offered at Hawaii inpatient drug rehab centers may include individual and group counseling sessions, life skill-building exercises, recreational therapy and family care services.
Hawaii Outpatient Addiction Treatment Programs
Clients participating in Hawaii outpatient drug rehab programs attend a schedule of counseling sessions and other meetings, usually for three or more hours per day for three or more days per week. Clients return home or to a sober living facility in the evenings.
Sober Living In Hawaii
Sober living facilities offer a safe environment for clients to continue working on their recovery. Residents must follow house rules regarding curfew times and shared household responsibilities and may be required to participate in random drug tests.
Hawaii sober living programs provide a unique opportunity for those in early recovery to experience increased independence while having easy access to a strong support network.
Addiction Treatment Aftercare Programs
After finishing an addiction treatment program, clients may wish to maintain contact with their support groups and recovery environment. Addiction aftercare and alumni programs offer ongoing education, support and group activities to help reinforce a lifelong commitment to sobriety.
Hawaii Addiction Treatment Types
No single treatment plan or therapy type works for everyone. Effective addiction treatment plans are built on an individualized assessment that takes into account all aspects of the client’s unique needs and overall health.
Treatment and therapy types may include:
Traditional Therapies
For the majority of clients, treatment includes individual and group therapy, 12-step support groups and behavioral therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy and motivational interviewing.
Complementary Therapies
Complementary therapies are holistic activities that address the overall well-being of the individual. These may include yoga, acupuncture, exercise programs, nutrition education, biofeedback and journaling. Complementary therapies may also have an emphasis on adventures and self-reliance through activities such as hiking or horseback riding.
Dual-Diagnosis Treatment
Some clients receive a dual diagnosis of both a substance use disorder and a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety. In the case of co-occurring disorders, treatment must address both conditions, each in context of the other.
Gender-Specific Treatment
Single-gender therapy groups are sometimes offered in addiction treatment programs. Separating treatment groups by gender encourages clients to more fully engage in therapy. Gender-specific treatment also takes into account the different gender-related struggles that can endanger sobriety and offers customized therapies to address these issues.
Hawaii Addiction Treatment Program Length
Drug and alcohol rehab may last a few days to a few weeks, depending on the severity of the addiction and any other medical issues. Hawaii inpatient drug rehab programs may last 30 days, 60 days, 90 days or longer, depending on how quickly the client progresses through treatment. Hawaii’s Department of Health advises that addiction treatment is most effective when it lasts a minimum of three months.
Sober living programs last however long the client can benefit from a supportive living environment, and aftercare programs continue indefinitely.
Paying For Drug Rehab In Hawaii
Addiction treatment programs can be paid for through a variety of ways. The most common method of payment is through private health insurance. Addiction treatment services are a covered behavioral health benefit under most insurance plans, as is the treatment for any accompanying mental health disorders.
Insurance providers offering coverage in Hawaii may include:
- AlohaCare
- Hawaii Medical Service Association
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan
- ‘Ohana Health Plan
- United HealthCare Community Plan
- Other options to pay for addiction treatment include:
- Self-pay with cash or credit cards
- Private medical loan
- Sliding-scale fees based on income
- Treatment scholarships
- Payment plan with the treatment provider
Traveling For Addiction Treatment
Many people in need of addiction treatment first seek the treatment center that is closest to home. However, the center most-suited to a person’s unique needs and the situation might not be right around the corner.
The benefits of traveling for addiction treatment include:
- Increased privacy
- Access to higher-quality care
- Removal from environmental triggers
- Improved focus on treatment
Vertava Health offers effective, compassionate treatment in several states across the country, and we can help people find the care they need—wherever they are.
