The Hawaii Island Fentanyl Task Force is inviting families and friends who have lost a loved one to a drug overdose to an “Information and Talk Story” session.
The HIFTF is a coalition of community volunteers and was first convened in November 2021 after the death of a 14-year-old girl from an unintentional fentanyl overdose.
In Hawaii County, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicate that for the last reported year, there has been an overdose death on the island an average of every 5 1/2 days.
The purpose of these sessions is to listen, support, and find ways for us as a community to advocate for healing and change.
According to HIFTF, losing a loved one to a drug overdose is different from other personal losses. Often, there is profound sadness at not having the chance to say goodbye, feelings of guilt and disappointment that you could have done more, and shame for being judged by others who do not understand addiction or risky drug use. Anger and the need to place blame can be overwhelming.
There is often frustration over the lack of support and understanding from others, such as those who are ignorant that addiction and overdoses are bad things that happen to good people.
No one chooses addiction — it is a disease — and unintentional overdoses in nonaddicted persons are now common.
The public is invited to attend 90-minute listening sessions in East and West Hawaii. Those with questions can visit www.hiftf.org, or call (808) 319-3371.
— East Hawaii: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, at the Hawaii County Building (Puna Conference Room), 25 Aupuni Street in Hilo.
— West Hawaii: 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 10, at the West Hawaii Civic Center (Community Hale, Building G), 74-5400 Ane Keohokalole Highway in Kailua-Kona.