HONOLULU, Hawaii – The use of xylazine, a horse tranquilizer, in drug mixtures has led to four overdose deaths in Hawaii last year. The addition of xylazine to drugs like fentanyl has been found to prolong the high for users. Gary Yabuta, executive director of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, reported that the four deaths occurred on Oahu and Maui in 2023, marking a significant increase from the previous three years, in which no xylazine-related deaths were recorded in the state.
The widespread use of xylazine as an additive in drugs has raised concerns about the heightened risk it poses to individuals. According to the DEA Administrator, xylazine has made fentanyl, the deadliest drug threat in the United States, even more lethal. One of the reasons for this is that there is currently no antidote for xylazine, in contrast to the opioid antidote, Naloxone or Narcan, which is available for fentanyl overdoses.
In addition to the xylazine-related deaths, Hawaii is also expected to reach a record high for fentanyl-related deaths in 2023, despite the increased availability of Narcan. First responders are responding to at least one drug overdose call daily in the state, with multiple cases occurring each day.
The challenges of addressing these overdoses are evident in the efforts of emergency services personnel who respond to such incidents. In one case, firefighters and police officers used Narcan on patients, and paramedics and EMTs administered the antidote intravenously, with varying success rates. The inability to access individuals in a timely manner has led to fatal outcomes in some cases. Dr. James Ireland, of Honolulu Emergency Services, highlighted the difficulties faced by responders in bringing overdose victims back from cardiac arrest situations.
The trend of rising fentanyl-related deaths is alarming, with the number of cases increasing each year, and the first six months of 2023 already showing a significant spike. Despite these challenges, there is also an increase in the use of Narcan by friends and family members of drug users to save their loved ones, indicating a potential shift in response to these crises.
Shedding light on these statistics and the experiences of responders is crucial to understanding the gravity of the situation and the efforts being made to combat the opioid crisis in Hawaii. It is important for communities to be aware of the resources available to address substance abuse and to support those affected by addiction.