The laboratory (which conducts tests for companies and those seeking employment and conducts 7,000 to 10,000 drug tests each quarter) found that the highest numbers of increase came in the last quarter of the year. This meant that meth use was up 57 percent from the yearâ average.

Such numbers are a big tell that prevention programs are needed now more than ever. Between the higher stress of such a situation causing users to increase use and others selling or starting to use the drug these numbers are likely to increase. The Hawaii Meth Project focuses on prevention with a target audience of 12 17 year olds. Diagnostic Laboratory Services also found that there was a 9 % increase in marijuana use from 2008 to 2009.Other forms of drug use went unchanged in the area.

According to estimates made by Hawaiiâ largest, locally owned drug testing company and drug prevention organizations the use of meth went up dramatically in 2009. Hawaii Meth Project and other drug prevention groups say that such increases can be com when a bad economy is affecting so many.

Diagnostic Laboratory Services released its year end numbers for 2009 and found that the use of gillian meth nert 33 % from where it stood in 2008.