Hawai‘i State Department of Health

Data from the 1993 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveal that 72.8 percent of high school students in Hawai`i have ever used alcohol, 38.4 percent have had alcohol within the past 30 days and 22.7 percent have had five or more drinks at one occasion during the past 30 days. Smoking is less common among Hawai`i teens than alcohol consumption with 28.2 percent reporting that they have smoked within the past month.

Healthy Hawai`i 2000 Objectives Baseline (1993)²² and current data 4.A Reduce the proportion of high 1993 1995 school seniors and young adults aged High School Seniors : 24.4 25.2 18-24 engaging in recent occasions of Young adults aged 18-24:²³20.6 18.1 heavy drinking of alcoholic beverages to no more than 28% of high school senior students and 32% of young adults aged 18-24. 4.B Increase by at least one year the First use before age 13 average age of first use of cigarettes, 1993 1995 alcohol and marijuana by adolescents Cigarettes 28.8 28.2 aged 12 through 17. Alcohol 33.8 33.9 Marijuana 10.7 14.1 4.C Reduce the proportion of young 1993 1995 people who have used alcohol, Alcohol 38.4 40.9 marijuana, and cocaine in the past Marijuana 16.7 23.8 month. Cocaine 3.3 3.0 4.D Increase the proportion of high 1993 school seniors who associate risk of Heavy alcohol use 84.4 physical or psychological harm with the Occasional marijuana use 83.9 heavy use of alcohol, occasional use of Experimental with cocaine 84.6 marijuana, and experimentation with Regular use of cigarettes 86.6 cocaine, or regular use of cigarettes.

For planning and evaluation purposes, periodic local and statewide prevention needs assessments and prevalence surveys are needed to estimate the number of youth using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs and trends in onset, drugs used, and patterns of use. Minimum data sets need to be developed to capture statistics describing prevention strategies utilized, participation rates, and program effectiveness in achieving measurable outcomes.

Community-based alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention programs are available in each county. The programs utilize a variety of nationally recognized strategies which have been shown to reduce risk and increase protective factors in youth in order to delay the onset of drug use and to encourage healthy lifestyles. Additionally, programs which offer alternatives to drug activity are sponsored by civic and youth organizations, religious groups, and social service agencies throughout the state. Drug education is included in public school curricula. Media campaigns deliver positive lifestyle messages throughout the state.

Healthy Hawai`i 2000 Objectives Baseline and current data²⁴ 4.E Reduce deaths caused by Deaths per 1992 1993 1994 1995 alcohol-related vehicle crashes to no 100,000 5.43 6.26 5.0 5.39 more than 5.5 per 100,000 people. residents* 4.F Reduce drug-related deaths to no No data available at this time. more than 3 per 100,000 people. 4.G Reduce drug abuse-related Data no longer available, except where hospital emergency department visits hospitals collect and report their own by at least 20 percent. data. 4.H Maintain the legal blood alcohol The level of .08 percent was made a concentration tolerance levels of .08 state law for people aged 21 and older percent for motor vehicle drivers aged in 1995. A lower level for people 21 and older and zero tolerance (.02 younger than 21 has not yet been made percent and lower) for those younger into law. than 21.

For planning and evaluation purposes periodic local and statewide needs and prevalence studies must be continued to provide an estimate of the populations needing and accessing substance abuse prevention, treatment, or support services in order to maintain clear, sober and healthy lifestyles. Consistent outcome measurements and social indicators need to be developed which can enable health, education, social, and law enforcement agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of prevention, intervention, and treatment approaches in enabling individuals to practice healthful lifestyles in safe and healthy communities.

Resources currently available in the community

Prevention efforts by state agencies, non-profit organizations, business and institutions of higher learning address substance use and abuse by adults from college-age to the elderly. Treatment is provided by state-funded and privately-funded facilities located throughout the state to rehabilitate persons who have experienced addiction and to reduce the harm of substance abuse related accidents, social problems, and health conditions. Supportive living facilities, especially for recovering women with children, are needed on all islands to assist persons in recovery to maintain clean, sober, and self-sustainiing lifestyles.