Recent studies show drug use in
Hawaii is up and the use of narcotics continues to climb.
A program recently brought to Hawaii is helping to tackle the problem.
Drug abuse and addiction continue to grow by epidemic proportions in Hawaii.
“Actually there’s a lot of people coming in for meth,” Bobby Newman Narconon Hawaii executive director said.
The epidemic does not only include crystal methamphetamine, heroine and cocaine...abuse of prescription drugs is also on the rise.
“Its increasing I would say we are seeing as many people needing help for that as we are for ice,” Newman said.
Narconon Hawaii is a non-profit drug rehab organization…they say Hawaii ranks fourth in the nation for drug addiction per capita...and recent studies show drug use among children is climbing.
“Its a war for sure,” Narconon Hawaii chairman of the board Myron Thompson said.
Olive Kaleuati is a mother of five...who is a graduate of the Narconon Hawaii First Step program, but she has never done drugs.
“It just happened so quickly,” Kaleuati said.
She says she and her husband had a hard time finding work and housing…he turned to drugs.
“I saw that he wasn't the same person, he was he wasn't that man that I married, you know, he wasn't the father that my children knew,” Kaleuati said.
Four rehab programs later the addiction lingered, but she stayed by his side.
“There was times where we just wanted to give up,” Kaleuati said.
They stumbled on the First Step Program, which targets getting addicts off the drugs, through their withdrawals and involving their loved ones.
“And then we go in and handle underlying mental/emotional issues by handling things like guilt, self respect, self esteem,” Newman said.
“Once people step in the door and if they are committed the likelihood of them making it through is really, really good,” Thompson said.
Narconon Hawaii prides its self with a 70-80 percent success rate.
“I am so proud of him for making it this far,” Kaleuati said.
The First Step Program launched in Hawaii early this year, it is free, however other Narconon rehab treatments do charge a fee ranging up to 20-thousand dollars... but scholarships are available.
“It's a cost to a result. It’s a war and we have to keep fighting you know,” Thompson said.
Narconon Hawaii hopes to expand their rehab programs to the neighbor islands; currently they have one location on Oahu with First Step sessions twice a month.
www.narcononhawaii.com
(808)550-0005
toll free (866) 373-2809
