HONOLULU (KHON2) -- Hawaiʻi is among the states with the lowest drug overdose death rates in the United States.
In 2022, Hawaiʻi had only 19.7 deaths per 100,000 people, ranking seventh from the bottom in the U.S.
One reason for Hawaiʻi's low overdose rate is its strong approach to harm reduction services.
Harm reduction means helping people use drugs more safely to prevent overdoses and other health problems.
A big part of this is the use of Narcan, a medication that can quickly reverse an opioid overdose.
Narcan, also known as naloxone, is legal and widely available in Hawaiʻi. It can be found at pharmacies without a prescription and is often distributed for free at community health events.
Narcan can save lives by blocking the effects of opioids on the brain, helping someone start breathing again if they’ve overdosed.
Hawaiʻi also focuses on education and support for people who use drugs.
There are programs that teach people how to use Narcan, recognize the signs of an overdose, and understand safer ways to use drugs.
These programs are often run by health organizations and community groups.
In addition to Narcan, Hawaiʻi offers other harm reduction services like needle exchange programs.
These programs provide clean needles to people who use drugs, reducing the spread of diseases like HIV and hepatitis.
They also connect people to treatment and support services if they’re ready to seek help.
By making Narcan accessible and providing harm reduction services, Hawaiʻi helps keep its drug overdose rates low.
Click here for more information on how to use or locate Naloxone/Narcan, click here.
These efforts show that with the right tools and support, it’s possible to prevent many drug-related deaths and improve the health and safety of the community.