Drug Overdoses Are On The Rise On Kauai. Meth Is Still The Main Reason 0 Although some antidotes like Narcan can help prevent opioid deaths, meth is still the leading cause of drug overdose overall in Hawaii.

On Kauai, drug overdose deaths have more than quadrupled in 10 years from fewer than five in 2012 to 18 last year, contributing to an alarming rise in fatal drug use statewide.

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Drug overdoses were the second-most common cause of fatal injury on the Garden Isle in 2021 — after suicide and surpassing deaths from drowning, car crashes and falls — and the 10th most common cause of death overall, according to Hawaii Department of Health data.

“It’s getting worse fast,” said Dr. Graham Chelius.

He’s lost count of the number of his Kauai patients who’ve died from a drug overdose on an island grappling with a rise in drug abuse, a suicide problem and a longstanding lack of mental health and drug addiction resources.

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