HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Fatal drug overdoses in Hawaii hit new highs in one category in 2025, while another saw a significant decrease, according to a new report.

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Deaths involving fentanyl dropped significantly, but those involving meth and other drugs soared.

Fentanyl deaths decline

Fentanyl killed 76 Hawaii residents last year, compared to 103 the year before — a 26% decrease with Oahu showing the biggest drop of 41%.

Experts credit awareness and law enforcement agencies targeting importers. First responders are also getting praise for quickly administer Narcan, the antidote for an opioid overdose. Also contributed to the decline, nonprofits that arm residents and users with Narcan so it’s widely and easily accessible.

“People that need it the most, the users, the addicts,” said Gary Yabuta, executive director of the Hawaii High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, who said those people are saving each other and therefore calls to 911 for overdose help is also dropping.

Meth fatalities rise

On the flip side, meth-involved fatalities went up by 8%, pushing 2025’s total statewide number to 374 overdose deaths from 352 in 2024.

By county, only Kauai saw a decrease. Maui was flat. The Big Island and Oahu saw significant jumps, and the trends are expected to continue.

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There is no antidote for someone who overdoses on meth.

Other drugs show sharp increase

There was also a sharp rise in fatalities connected to other, some emerging drugs.

Six people died from Bromazalam, or designer Xanax.

MDMA, better known as ecstasy or Molly, went from zero deaths in 2024 to eight victims last year.

And Benzodizepine killed three people in 2025. There were no deaths reported in 2024.

Yabuta warns, many of the newer synthetic versions of the drugs are being sold through social media ads.

“We have fake Xanax. We have Valium that’s being abused, MDMA, which is a hallucinogen. All of these drugs, it’s like a candy store out there,” Yabuta said. “We’re hearing every day how much youth are being involved and infatuated with the drug industry.”

Resources are available for people who needs treatment for drug addiction. Here are a few:

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