Hawaii sees dramatic increase in fentanyl-related overdoses reported in September

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Regulation enforcement sources verify fentanyl is suspected in one other dying on Oahu. It’s the second in lower than per week.

In the meantime, Division of Well being information exhibits fentanyl-related overdoses are taking place on each main island within the state.

Was once, Honolulu Emergency Medical Companies crews may go a pair weeks or extra with out responding to an overdose.

However recently that’s altering.

“I’ve gone to 5 up to now two weeks,” stated Manahel Al-Hozail.

The Honolulu EMS paramedic says fentanyl was suspected in all of these circumstances. She added sufferers are popping up in communities throughout the island.

On Sunday, a 26-year-old man was discovered lifeless at a house in Hawaii Kai. Sources verify a HAZMAT staff found fentanyl on the scene.

It’s the second time in lower than per week the drug has been linked to a lethal overdose on Oahu.

In response to regulation enforcement, the opposite deadly OD occurred Tuesday in Kaimuki.

“Yea, completely it’s a priority,” stated Dan Galanis.

The Division of Well being epidemiologist not too long ago dug via a yr’s value of EMS reviews from throughout the state and located there’s been a significant uptick within the variety of fentanyl associated overdoses ambulance crews are responding to.

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Between October 2021 and September 2022, EMS was referred to as to a complete of 132 fentanyl-related overdoses in Hawaii. Twenty-four of these occurred final month alone.

“That’s undoubtedly a spike,” Galanis stated.

That enhance coincides with a warning from Hawaii’s federal drug process power.

Final month, officers despatched out a bulletin alerting the general public about lethal fentanyl powder and rainbow colour tablets being offered on Hawaii Island.

In response to Galanis, nearly all of overdoses throughout the previous yr have occurred on the neighbor islands.

Throughout that very same one-year time interval, 36 fentanyl-related overdoses have been reported in Hawaii County, 28 on Maui, 44 on Oahu and 24 on Kauai.

He says circumstances have usually concerned younger adults.

“Overdoses which are associated to heroin and fentanyl you see individuals of their 20s and 30s,” stated Galanis.

Of the 132 overdoses, reviews confirmed all however three sufferers have been nonetheless alive when paramedics arrived on scene.

“Administering Narcan early can undoubtedly save lives,” stated Al-Hozail.

The nasal spray is used to reverse the consequences of an opioid overdose.

“It’s a terrific factor to have,” she stated. “We’ve had a few circumstances the place they (the affected person) overdosed and a pal had Narcan.”

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