Expert: Worrisome rates of drug abuse among Hawaii’s youth could fuel surge in crime

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Medicine and crime ― the 2 typically go hand in hand, together with amongst youngsters.

Now a brand new examine exhibits extra of Hawaii’s youth are getting caught up within the cycle of habit.

And in some instances, it’s translating to violence.

That’s what police say occurred Monday night time when two boys ― ages 15 and 16 ― allegedly walked into Arisu Bar and Grill in Kalihi and dragged a 60-year-old girl to the bottom making an attempt to steal her purse.

It occurred simply after 10 p.m. Sources say the boys have been armed with a slingshot.

They’re accused of speeding in and assaulting the girl whereas she was consuming.

HNN confirmed officers arrested the teenagers blocks away close to the nook of Waiakamilo and Kaumualii streets.

Throughout a pat down, sources say, the 16-year-old had what gave the impression to be a meth pipe.

“It doesn’t shock me that we see youngsters utilizing such extremely addictive medication,” mentioned Kenneth Lawson, school specialist on the William S. Richardson College of Legislation.

In response to new figures, roughly 1 in each 10 center and highschool college students in Hawaii report a possible substance use dysfunction indicating a necessity for remedy. The Hawaii Scholar Alcohol, Tobacco and Different Drug Use Survey additionally exhibits remedy want will increase by grade, greater than doubling from center college to highschool.

Youth aren’t simply experimenting with alcohol, nicotine and marijuana. The examine confirmed college students as younger as eighth grade have been additionally making an attempt meth, opiates and cocaine.

Lawson, a legislation college teacher, is aware of first-hand how rapidly habit can devour somebody’s life and the lengths customers are keen to go to get excessive. “I’ve been in restoration happening 16 years now,” he mentioned.

“(For medication) you’ll see folks breaking into folks’s homes, breaking into automobiles, stealing no matter they’ll to get the cash to feed their behavior. So this habit results us all.”

For years, Hawaii has had a scarcity of beds the place folks can detox, particularly on the neighbor islands. There’s additionally a necessity for extra youth drug remedy packages.

Lawson believes with the rise of fentanyl, the state’s drug issues are solely going to worsen.

“So we have to assume proactively,” he mentioned. “Get extra remedy amenities for our juveniles and others.”

In the meantime, HPD confirms the teenagers concerned in Monday night time’s theft try are awaiting prices.

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