Being an island state does not exempt Hawaii from being a major destination for drug smugglers. The 12 million tourists who visit Hawaii every year bring in a cornucopia of drugs of every type, while the home-grown manufacturer of crystal meth exists right alongside cocaine, heroin, and every sort of club drug and prescription drug abuse. Hydrocodone is the most widely-abused prescription drug in Hawaii.

State-mandated programs which use money seized from drug operations offer some relief to individuals and families facing drug abuse problems. The state funds a widespread network of drug treatment and rehabilitation programs. Even hard-core addicts can seek treatment for substance abuse problems of all types and hope for complete recovery. In addition, there is a wide range of other public and private facilities for drug and alcohol rehabilitation in Hawaii, so families should not feel that they must depend on public programs, which are often crowded and short on staff.

There is no shortage of facilities and programs for the treatment of drug abuse and alcoholism in Hawaii. Drug rehabilitation centers, alcohol recovery and treatment facilities, halfway houses, detox centers, outpatient clinics, residential treatment centers—in Hawaii, as on the mainland, people seeking help for substance abuse are faced with choosing the correct program for their particular problem. Make sure it has experience with the type of abuse, as meth addiction is very different from alcohol addiction, and any treatment center that offers the same approach to both is one to be avoided.

A good drug or alcohol rehabilitation center offers a well-rounded approach that looks to that all-important goal of living sober for life rather than just short-term detoxification. A program that focuses only on “getting clean” is unlikely to offer the type of counseling and behavior modification therapy required for staying clean. If your local Hawaiian rehab facility seems limited, look farther afield for a treatment center that offers comprehensive counseling and behavior modification therapy. Detoxification—withdrawal—may eliminate the physical cravings but it will not shed the psychological dependency. Only long-term counseling can address this problem.

In Hawaii, “family” is very important. The instinct to keep a loved one close during treatment is therefore strong, but may not be wise. Often, a drug or alcohol habit is enabled by family or friends who try to excuse the addict, support him financially, or fail to make her confront her problem. Sometimes, a total break with the old lifestyle is necessary in the short term in order to launch a new, drug-free life. This is best facilitated within the walls of a residential living center or other inpatient treatment center. The no-nonsense staff is supportive while teaching the addict to face his addiction and learn to live without a crutch.

Hawaiian drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation centers may or may not offer the level of care you need within your local community. If not, keep looking until you find one that does. A failed program can be as destructive as not seeking help at all.