Hawai‘i To Receive $4 Million In New Federal Funding To Help State Respond To Meth Crisis, Opioid Misuse
Funding Comes After Schatz Called For More Federal Resources To Combat Meth Epidemic in December 2019; Hawai‘i Meth-Related Death Rate Nearly Three Times Higher Than National Rate
HONOLULU — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) announced that the state of Hawai‘i will receive $4,001,647 in new federal funding to help respond to the growing crisis of methamphetamine misuse, as well as opioid misuse. This is the first year that this grant has allowed the flexibility to address stimulants, including meth; previously, this grant could only be used to respond to the opioid epidemic.
This new funding and increased flexibility comes after Senator Schatz called for more federal resources to respond to the meth crisis in December 2019.
“Meth misuse and addiction has been a serious problem in Hawai‘i for decades, but recently the meth-related death rate has skyrocketed,” said Senator Schatz, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This grant will help us put critical resources towards saving lives and combating this crisis.”
Hawai‘i has experienced some of the worst effects of meth misuse, making it an important public health priority. In 2016, Hawai‘i had 6.8 meth-related deaths per 100,000 residents — three times the national rate of 2.4 deaths per 100,000 people. Meth-related deaths on the islands have outpaced opioid-related deaths for each of the past five years.
This grant comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and will help fund prevention, treatment, and recovery support services.
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