LIHUE — The state Department of Health has received $2.1 million in federal grant funds, in addition to an initial $8 million grant received last year, to address and prevent the opioid crisis in Hawaii.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced this second installment of funding for state opioid response grants. A total of $487 million is being granted directly to states to continue combatting the ongoing opioid crisis.
The funding will expand access to treatment that works, especially medication-assisted treatment with appropriate social supports.
“I’m very pleased Hawaii has received this additional funding to support the implementation of our comprehensive plan to fight opioid misuse,” said Gov. David Ige. “We appreciate the strong support from our federal partners and believe we’ll continue to be successful because all stakeholders are working closely together to achieve success.”
Hawaii’s opioid death rates have historically been lower than the national rate, but through 2018, the incidence of drug-related deaths in the state has surpassed traffic fatalities in Hawaii. Fortunately, death rates have declined since the initiative was launched, with more than 120 overdose reversals through administration of naloxone in the last year.
The action areas identified in the plan include:
w Improving and modernizing healthcare strategies and access to opioid and other substance misuse treatment and recovery services;
w Improving prescribing practices among healthcare providers and health insurance companies for opioid and other potentially addictive medications;
w Improving community-based programs and public education to prevent opioid misuse, such as the Hawaii Medication Drop Box Program that was launched in July 2018 as a result of the support of the state Department of the Attorney General, Department of Public Safety, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui and Kauai police departments.
Eddie Mersereau, state DOH deputy director of Behavioral Health, said, “In Hawaii, we all know a relative or friend who has been affected by drug misuse or addiction, including those who were taking a prescribed opioid as directed for pain relief. The social, economic and health disparities in our state, including access to behavioral health care, also make us particularly vulnerable to opioid and other drug misuse.”
