Substance Abuse, Addictions & Rehabilitation Program manager Charlotte Flores said the sharp rise in methamphetamine-related illnesses and deaths in the CNMI is alarming, adding that the program at the HOPE Recovery Center in Marpi has also seen an increase in people needing help.
“I was just really shocked to see the increase in numbers. I think it's really alarming. But we could also say at the Hope Recovery Center that we've also seen an increase ourselves,” Flores told Marianas Press in a phone interview last Sept. 24.
The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. earlier reported that methamphetamine-related cases rose from 71 in 2022 to 78 in 2023 and 122 in 2024 before more than doubling to 252 in 2025. Through Aug. 31 this year, CHCC had already identified 179 cases.
Between 2022 and 2026, CHCC also documented 612 emergency department visits involving patients with identified methamphetamine use, 509 instances requiring urine drug screening and 57 psychiatric interventions. CHCC said most substance-related deaths identified during the surveillance period involved adults between 30 and 59.
Flores said SAAR is also seeing more troubling withdrawal symptoms among some participants compared with five or six years ago.
“What we've been seeing are different withdrawal symptoms, different from like five, six years ago. And the withdrawal symptoms now are a lot scarier because hallucinating is part of it, just having some psychotic episodes,” she said.
According to Flores, there is no single reason people start using methamphetamine. Some SAAR participants have experienced trauma, while others started out of curiosity. She said some use meth to numb themselves and avoid confronting difficult emotions or experiences.
Recovery itself can be difficult, she said, with participants experiencing exhaustion, depression, and strong cravings. Flores said the brain can take months, rather than days, to heal, making it difficult for some people to remain sober.
Participants at the HOPE Recovery Center undergo about four to five months of residential treatment. SAAR provides relapse prevention and early recovery programs, life skills, social wellness, anger management, alcohol and drug education, trauma-focused sessions, treatment planning, and recovery support meetings.
Flores said family support can also play an important role in encouraging people to seek help and continue their recovery.
“Having the support is really what will motivate them to seek help and to stay sober and to not be judged, right, and to just have patience with them,” she said.
CHCC Public Health medical director Dr. Andrzej Szefler said the numbers reflect a growing public health concern affecting individuals, families and the wider community.
“Behind every statistic is a person whose life has been affected. We encourage anyone struggling with substance use, as well as their loved ones, to seek help as early as possible,” Szefler said.
Flores said people seeking assistance can contact the HOPE Recovery Center at (670) 323-4673. Help is also available through CHCC's Community Guidance Center.
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