The Hawaii Island Fentanyl Task Force is stepping up the fight against addiction and overdose

A coalition of volunteers hosts story sessions for friends and families affected by drug addiction and overdose on Hawaii Island.

Over the past 15 years, fentanyl has become the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people ages 18 to 45, with overdose deaths among 10- to 19-year-olds rising faster than any other age group.

A Big Island resident dies every 5 1/2 days from a drug overdose, mostly attributed to fentanyl, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2022, a resident died from an overdose every 11 days.

Public concern and outcry about the prevalence of fentanyl increased dramatically after the accidental overdose death of a 14-year-old girl in West Hawaii in 2021. The tragedy ignited community members and health professionals to take action and create the Task Force of Fentanyl from Hawaii Island. to combat the growing public threat.

Since its inception, HIFTF has prioritized education, prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery support in its mission to reduce addiction and stop drug overdoses on the island.

“There are families and individuals in our neighborhoods who are suffering from the loss of a loved one to an opioid overdose like fentanyl,” said HIFTF member Micah Alameda. “It’s tragic and more people are suffering than we know.”

In late June, the task force hosted a breakout session in Hilo for anyone who has lost a loved one to an overdose or been affected by addiction directly or through family or friends.

“In recognizing our priorities, we saw that support services for people in recovery as well as for people who have lost loved ones is a great place to start,” said HIFTF Co-Chair Dr. Kevin Kunz . “We offer these discussion stories so that people can find support and a place to share their experiences and engage with people without stigma and shame.”

Kunz and HIFTF co-leader Dr. Hannah Preston Pita, CEO of the Big Island Substance Abuse Council, along with Alameda task force members Tim Hansen and Michelle Kobayashi, met and subsequently recruited two new members—Laura Dvorak, bereavement counselor at Hawaii Care Choices, and Will, a veteran and former addict who declined to give his last name.

Dvorak decided to meet with the task force to discuss how to provide services to more people.

“A lot of people are under the impression that death support (at Hawaii Care Choices) is only for people who have lost someone to hospice care, but that’s not the case,” Dvorak said. “We offer this pain support to anyone without insurance. However, I know it’s harder to seek support when someone you love is dying of an overdose or suicide, so I’m here to learn more too.”

According to Kunz, losing a loved one to a drug overdose is different from other personal losses. Many people deal with guilt for not doing enough or feeling relieved that their loved one’s battle is finally over.

There is also an added layer of shame that comes from being judged by others who believe that addiction is a choice and not a disease that can affect anyone at any time.

“Nobody chooses addiction when they start using substances. It is a disease. But in society, the moment you’re labeled as an addict, you disappear,” Kunz said. “The correlation between trauma and substance abuse is staggering and many don’t realize it.”

After returning home from military service, Will started going to the VA and said he was over-prescribed opioids to treat his PTSD. His drinking eventually led him to heroin.

Over the past two years, Will has managed to get clean after residential treatment through BISAC and the relentless support of his mother.

“People like you guys save people’s lives,” he told the task force. “I was lucky to have support from my mother, but many have no one to support them. I didn’t think it was possible for me and I truly believe I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for my mom. It’s rare to find someone who still sees you as a person and sees addiction as a disease.”

According to Will, he was told that fentanyl has replaced heroin and is now easier to find.

“So many of my friends died from fentanyl or were saved by Narcan at the last minute. There were some people that I thought would make it, but they didn’t,” Will said. “It’s the first time I feel like I have to do something positive with my time. If they are here, there are others who can be. They need to see someone they can relate to.”

While the emphasis is on treatment and support, HIFTF believes that prevention and education is the best long-term option to combat the rising rate of addiction and overdose deaths.

According to HIFTF, 90% of adults with addictions began using addictive substances before the age of 20, making outreach and support to Island youth, their families and community contacts all the more imperative.

“I met so many people who didn’t think this would ever happen to their family. They didn’t think it was possible, but one in ten families will experience loss due to overdose and addiction,” Kunz said. “We want to start the fight while it’s still upstream and not already over the waterfall.”

The storyboarding session inspired Dvorak to join the task force and begin developing a substance abuse counseling program.

Hawaii Care Choices is currently offering a free group for adults from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Zoom every Tuesday. More information can be found at hawaiicarechoices.org.

After joining HIFTF, Will said he will do his part by providing Narcan in the community while talking to people about their potential options.

HIFTF will be handing out free Narcan from 10:00am to 1:00pm at KTA Waikoloa on Saturday, August 24th and from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at KTA Keauhou on Friday, August 30th.

For more information about HIFTF, its Narcan giveaway days, upcoming events and how to get involved, visit hiftf.org.