The Epidemic

Here at Relapse we believe that by telling great stories, films show people issues that they normally wouldn’t care about. Relapse’s story looks to spark conversation about the issue of Crystal Meth. The drug has escalated so quickly here in Hawaii—where we live and work—that the government has labeled it an epidemic. The movie may be fiction, but the epidemic is real.

• Crystal Meth, or Ice, is the most addictive drug our society has ever experienced and the fastest growing drug of choice in the world.

• Hawaii boasts the highest per capita of any other state in the U.S. The Big Island has the highest use in the State.

• Hawaii consumes approx. 35 pounds of ICE per day, yielding approx. $2,250,000 per day with yields approx. $800,000 per year in sales.

• The highest rate of meth use was among adults ages 18-25.

• Addicts as young as 9 years old can be found in Hawaii’s mental wards.

• Hundreds of children are neglected every year after living with parents who are meth “cooks.” More than 20% of the meth labs seized last year had children present.

• 70-80% of ICU cases are ice related.

• In three years, property crime has risen up to 43% as a result of ice.

• 60% of police cases are related to ice.

• 65% of police staff’s time is spent on ice related cases.