Rise in overdoses prompts KPD warning

LIHU’E — A rise in the abuse of the dangerous opioid fentanyl on Kaua’i prompted a warning to the public from the Kaua’i Police Department.

“We have seen a growing number of cases which appear to be drug overdoses,” said Patrol Services Bureau Assistant Chief Mark Begley. “We believe that fentanyl, an extremely toxic and dangerous drug, has been intentionally ingested or has been laced in batches of other drugs such as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine. Some of the recent overdoses have resulted in death.”

The warning came after two women were found unresponsive on the ground at Kapa’a Ball Park on Sep. 22. According to a press release issued by KPD on Wednesday, both exhibited signs of drug overdoses. One struggled to breathe, while the other was not breathing at all.

When police arrived on scene, bystanders were already performing CPR. Patrol officers took over, administering the emergency nasal spray Narcan to both women. They were successfully revived and later transported to Wilcox Medical Center by ambulance.

“In this particular case, we believe that the rapid availability and administration of Narcan saved the lives of these two women, who otherwise would have died,” Begley said. “However, it is critical to understand that Narcan does not guarantee your survival from a drug overdose or full recovery from the damaging effects of an overdose.”

KPD public information officer Coco Zickos said that two people died after overdosing on synthetic opioids in 2020, and two more have died thus far in 2021. Zickos noted that numerous toxicology reports are currently pending.

Patrol officers have conducted 71 drug arrests in 2021, at least some of which were due to fentanyl, according to KPD.

Zickos said that the fentanyl is being ingested in a powdered form similar to cocaine or heroin. She also confirmed that the drug is being brought to Kaua’i from off-island.

In the last month alone, Narcan has been administered at least 18 times to patients exhibiting signs of opioid overdoses, according to Cody Bonilla of Kaua’i American Medical Response. On five of those occasions, the patients died nonetheless.

Information online and for resources to help with substance abuse can be found online at https://health.hawaii.gov/substance-abuse/prevention-treatment/ or at the McKenna Recovery Center at http://www.mckennarecoverycenter.com/lihue-kauai.

Suspected illegal use or distribution of fentanyl can be reported to KPD Dispatch at 808-241-1711. Anonymous tips can be submitted at cskauai.org.

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Kaleb Lay, general assignment reporter, can be reached at 647-0329 or klay@thegardenisland.com.​