New documentary about Hawaiʻi’s fentanyl crisis now on YouTube

For those who missed its Big Island premiere, a new documentary about Hawaiʻi’s fentanyl crisis is now available on YouTube.

Produced by the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force and Big Island Substance Abuse Council, “Tidal Wave: Hawaiʻi’s Fentanyl Epidemic!” explores the impact of fentanyl across the islands, a news release said.

The film, which premiered Oct. 17 in Waimea, documents the impact of addiction and fentanyl on Hawaiʻi Island, sharing stories of loss, resilience, recovery and local efforts to address the crisis.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid, is 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to the task force website. A few milligrams can be lethal, making it a leading contributor to drug overdose deaths across Hawaiʻi.

In 2025, one person died of a drug overdose every nine days in Hawaiʻi County.

Watch the full documentary here. For optimal viewing, click the Settings icon in the YouTube video player, select Quality and choose 2160p (4K) for the highest available resolution.

The task force urges residents to watch and share the film to help raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and break down the stigma surrounding addiction. For more information, click here.

In related news, the task force is hosting informational events and Naloxone giveaways through the end of the year. Naloxone is a life-saving medication used to reverse an opioid overdose, including fentanyl and heroin. It can be injected or administered through a nasal spray (Narcan).

Find a schedule of events at https://www.hiftf.org/copy-of-events/.