3RD ANNUAL HAWAIʻI FENTANYL & ADDICTIONS SUMMIT TO ADDRESS STATEWIDE OPIOID CRISIS
3RD ANNUAL HAWAIʻI FENTANYL & ADDICTIONS SUMMIT TO ADDRESS STATEWIDE OPIOID CRISIS
The Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force announces the 3rd Annual Hawaiʻi Fentanyl and Addictions Summit on Monday, August 5, 2024, at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This free event has established itself as the State’s premier opioid and addiction awareness summit since its inception in 2022. It brings together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds across Hawaiʻi to tackle the opioid-driven addiction and overdose crisis affecting our communities.
“We are committed to doing all we can to protect our community from the opioid and fentanyl epidemic,” said Mayor Mitch Roth. “Since November 2021, we have worked closely with community leaders and healthcare professionals to address this crisis head-on, and this summit represents a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to protect and educate our residents.”
The event will feature a series of informative sessions aimed at educating attendees about the dangers of opioids and fentanyl, sharing the latest facts and statistics of this crushing epidemic, and identifying actionable solutions. Attendees can expect to hear from families directly impacted by a drug overdose, participate in active discussions, and collaborate on strategies.
Dr. Hannah Preston-Pita, the Chief Executive for the Big Island Substance Abuse Council and one of the leaders of the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, emphasized the importance of community involvement: “This epidemic is much closer to your household than you might think. By attending the summit, you can become more educated and aware of this issue and learn how to protect your loved ones.”
Wally Lau, another leader of the Task Force, added, “Our goal is to save lives by raising awareness and providing the necessary tools and resources to fight this epidemic. We are grateful for the support of our partners and sponsors, without whom this summit would not be possible.”
Dr. Kevin Kunz, also a Task Force leader, echoed these sentiments: “The collaboration and dedication of everyone involved in this summit demonstrate our collective commitment to making a difference. Together, we can turn the tide on this crisis that is killing someone every nine days on Hawaiʻi Island and one every twenty-eight hours in the State of Hawaiʻi.”
We encourage everyone, especially our local news media, to attend the 3rd Annual Hawaiʻi Fentanyl and Addictions Summit to gain valuable insights and contribute to the fight against this opioid crisis. For more information on the summit and to register, please visit https://www.hiftf.org.
This program is approved by the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (Approval# ADAD-25-010) for up to 7 contact hours.
