Hawaiʻi's New Ice Age: Crystal Meth in the Islands: Recent Episodes
Hawaii Public Radio
The story of crystal methamphetamine in Hawai‘i touches nearly everyone in the islands. We see it in our court rooms, our emergency rooms, and in our families across multiple generations. Over the next month, you’ll hear these stories in our new podcast series, Hawai‘i’s New Ice Age: Crystal Meth in the Islands. And we also want to give you the opportunity to share yours.
Over the past several weeks, we’ve been sharing stories of crystal meth addiction throughout the state. It’s a collaborative project with Honolulu Civil Beat called Hawai‘i’s New Ice Age: Crystal Meth in The Islands . In a search for solutions, one program seems to be working. But as HPR’s Molly Solomon reports, there’s not nearly enough space.
More than 20 years ago, Hawai‘i was an early adopter of drug court—allowing nonviolent substance abusers to avoid prison with a program of supervised treatment, work and regular drug testing. Today, 85% of those cases involve crystal methamphetamine—and it’s overwhelming the system. There’s a waiting list for drug court, and a waiting list to get into treatment centers helping users of crystal meth. Hospital emergency rooms taking care of crystal methamphetamine users often face financial charges running to the tens of thousands of dollars, largely absorbed by taxpayers. Treatment professionals say a bigger role for primary care physicians could help deal with earlier stages of the use of this drug—and also help a movement toward a more honest and realistic dealing with Hawai‘i’s crisis of crystal methamphetamine use.
The time it takes to process experience is what accounts for the lag between Hawai‘i’s most publicized ice epidemic in the early 2000’s, and artworks dealing with the subject. Just this year, a new play and novel deal with a particularly Hawai‘i aspect of the problem. HPR’s Noe Tanigawa reports on the role of families. An extended version of these interviews is part of Episode 3 of HPR’s podcast “Hawai‘i’s New Ice Age: Crystal Meth in the Islands.” All 3 episodes can be found at hawai‘ipublicradio.org …..and on iTunes .
Over our first two episodes, we have spoken with people who deal with the impact of Hawai‘i’s crystal methamphetamine epidemic: from emergency room doctors and treatment professionals to those in the judiciary and law enforcement. We’ve also heard some stories from those who have been users. In this episode, we hear more from people who have had the drug at the center of their lives. HPR reporter Noe Tanigawa talked story with three women who have come through meth addictions, and we hear about their experiences, their perspectives and how their lives have been changed.
Many people think of crystal methamphetamine users as homeless addicts with deep-seated mental health issues. While that describes some users, it’s a much broader spectrum of people who have issues with crystal meth. From blue collar workers seeking energy to work multiple jobs to white collar employees, crystal meth in Hawai‘i cuts across demographic lines. Job applicants in the state consistently test positive for crystal meth at more than three times the national average. This episode looks at how and why crystal meth has reached so deeply into local culture here---as well as where it comes from and how it gets here. This podcast is produced by Hawaii Public Radio with help from Honolulu Civil Beat. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes . The story of crystal methamphetamine in Hawai‘i touches nearly everyone in the islands. We see it in our court rooms, our emergency rooms, and in our families across multiple generations. Over the next month, you’ll hear these stories in our new
Crystal meth first came to Hawai‘i in the 1980s. Over the next several weeks, Hawaii Public Radio and Honolulu Civil Beat are doing a series of podcasts and radio reports called Hawai‘i’s New Ice Age: Crystal Meth in the Islands . Today, HPR’s Molly Solomon looks at how the drug first arrived in the islands. Listen to the full episode by subscribing to our podcast on iTunes . Judge Edward Kubo says the calls took a while to trickle in. It wasn’t until 2003 that he started hearing from people in Miami, Atlanta, even New York. They were all calling with the same question. “What is this crystal methamphetamine thing?” Kubo now runs drug court. But at the time he was the U.S. attorney in Hawai‘i. He says the state was the starting point for what became an epidemic across the country. “We’re not proud of it,” he said. “But crystal methamphetamine is our gift to the nation. It started here.” Kubo says crystal meth in Hawai‘i goes back to the 1980s. The drug first reached Hawaii’s shores
A week ago today, two men pleaded not guilty in the largest bust ever involving crystal methamphetamine on Kaua‘i. Police say they found seven pounds of meth—worth $1.6 million. It’s the latest reminder that crystal methamphetamine remains a devastating problem around the state. Hawai‘i Public Radio and Honolulu Civil Beat are joining forces on a series of podcasts and radio reports on the topic. We’re calling it Hawai‘i’s New Ice Age: Crystal Meth in the Islands . Listen to the full episode by subscribing to our podcast on iTunes . We start our radio reports today with HPR’s Molly Solomon as she looks at some of the damage the drug is inflicting across the islands. About 10 years ago, Hannah Ii Epstein was an addict. She was 17 when she first turned to crystal meth. “I was really addicted to just putting things up my nose,” said Epstein. “I found that meth was the thing that made me actually feel something.” Epstein lives in Chicago now, but grew up surfing at Hale‘iwa Beach Park on