STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3425

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 64

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2024

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 64 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE AND COUNTIES TO PRIORITIZE AND DIRECT ALL AVAILABLE RESOURCES TO SUPPORTING COORDINATED INTERAGENCY COLLABORATION AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS AIMED AT ADDRESSING THE ONGOING FENTANYL EPIDEMIC,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the State and counties to prioritize and direct all available resources to support a coordinated interagency collaboration and public-private partnerships aimed at addressing the ongoing fentanyl epidemic.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Department of Health, County of Kauaʻi Housing Agency, Mayor or the County of Hawaiʻi, Kumukahi Health + Wellness, Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, Hawaii Health & Harm Reduction Center, North Hawaii Community Action Network, and twenty-one individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State is experiencing an increased number of drug overdose deaths and the majority of those overdose deaths are from opioid prescription pain medications, heroin, and illicitly manufactured non-medical fentanyl. Illicitly manufactured non-medical fentanyl is commonly mixed into known street drugs, including cannabis, and pressed into fake look-alike pills, including fake oxytocin, Adderall, Xanax, and others. Your Committee recognizes that fentanyl is up to fifty percent stronger than heroin and one hundred times stronger than morphine, and according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, a single two milligram dose can be lethal. Combating the use of illicit drugs requires a multifactorial, coordinated interagency collaboration and public-private partnerships are also necessary to address the epidemic through various approaches, including education and prevention, screening and intervention, drug treatment and recovery services, and increased drug interdiction and law enforcement efforts. Your Committee notes the success of the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, which was formed with the mission to reduce the demand and supply of illicit drugs in all age groups through a coordinated interagency approach. Accordingly, in recognition of the accomplishments of the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, this measure urges interagency collaboration and public-private partnerships between the State, counties, and other stakeholders to effectively address the fentanyl crisis statewide.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Health and Human Services that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 64 and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Health and Human Services,

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JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair