Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region
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According to the UNODC Pacific regional
overview (2001), subgroups of the Yakuza are
actively involved in crystal methamphetamine
trafficking on the island of Saipan . Reports
state little evidence of a local presence in
the Pacific Islands controlling transhipments;
most reveal criminal syndicates operating
from outside the Pacific . Seizures have
revealed groups linked to Asian organised
crime syndicates and a Tongan syndicate
based in Hawaii . Cannabis trafficking between
Australia and Papua New Guinea is reported
to involve syndicates led by Australians with
business links to Papua New Guinea (United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2003)
There is little indication of any significant
importation of drugs to the Pacific Islands .
Most consider this to be due to traditional
drug use patterns and low buying capacity .
However, it is possible that some drugs
destined for transhipment may be used for
local marketing (United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime, 2003) .
Arrest and seizure data
Violence against women and family, particularly
in Melanesian countries (Papua New
Guinea, Solomon Islands, Fiji), is common
after abuse of cannabis and home-brewed
alcohol . For example, a gynaecologist at
the Port Moresby General Hospital said in a
press release (Kapi, 2004) that 60 per cent of
women face physical abuse and more than
half of the domestic violence is related to
alcohol . Moreover, the Director of the National
Narcotics Bureau ., Paita Towo, reported that
60 per cent of crimes committed in Papua
New Guinea were drug-related (Ruahma’a,
2004) .
There is a significant association between
alcohol consumption and cannabis smoking
with crimes committed by youth (Nejo,
2001) . One study in Fiji in 1995 showed that,
of drug-related arrests, over 60 per cent were
in the 17–24 age group (99% Fijian residents)
. Cannabis features in nearly all arrests
(Adinkrah, 1995, cited by Nejo, 2001) .
In Papua New Guinea serious law and
order issues prevail (Nejo, 2001) . Murders,
armed robberies, rape and car jacking are
daily occurrences (Nejo, 2001) . Moreover,
corruption and white collar crimes are
written about constantly in the newspapers .
There are particular concerns regarding the
association between cannabis cultivation
and the trade for illegal guns . There are
numerous press releases (2004–2005) reporting
arrests that involve the trade of cannabis
for guns .
For information on money laundering of
proceeds of illicit drug trafficking, see Drug
Enforcement Administration, Intelligence
Division (2004); Nejo (2001); United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (2003) .
Official law enforcement figures were not
able to be obtained for this review .
Crop studies and crop eradications: NA
A14 .4 Drug-taking practices,
risk factors and trends
Cannabis
Key informants and published reports indicated
that cannabis is generally combined
with alcohol . Regionally, cannabis is mainly
smoked but it is also chewed and sometimes
baked with flour (Nejo, 2001) . All data sources
agreed that cannabis use is strongly genderlinked,
with significantly more males than
females using it (Nejo, 2001) . The majority of
cannabis users are young, aged approximately
15–20 years (Nejo, 2001) . Cannabis is used in
the expatriate community and by tourists .
Methamphetamines
Methamphetamine abuse is not a major concern
for the countries involved in the current
situation assessment (Drug Enforcement
Administration, Intelligence Division, 2004;
Nejo, 2001; United Nations Office on Drugs
and Crime, 2003) . It is a major concern in
the United States Pacific jurisdictions (Drug
Enforcement Administration, Intelligence
Division, 2004; Nejo, 2001; United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime, 2003) . Reports
state that ice smokers on Guam and in the
Northern Mariana Islands are said to be
moving to injection of methamphetamine;
obviously this is concerning for HIV risks
and blood-borne viruses (Nejo, 2001) . It is
concerning to authorities that methamphetamine
abuse could become an issue for other
Pacific Island countries in the near future .
Inhalants
There were a number of anecdotal reports
made by key informants regarding inhalant
use in the countries under investigation . The
most widely used/abused is petrol .
Risks associated with drug use
Problems associated with alcohol and cannabis
abuse are concerning . In addition to the
direct impact of drug use to the individual,
there are a plethora of socio-economic and
community-level consequences, including:
disruption and neglect of the family;
increased crime; domestic/family violence
(e .g . wife beating, marital rape, physical
abuse of children); sexual violence (rape,
gang rape); and exposure to HIV/AIDS and
other sexually transmitted infections (through
unprotected sex, sex work, the disinhibiting
effects of drugs) . Increases in HIV have been
noted in Papua New Guinea . There is no
confirmation that this increase is associated
with intravenous drug use, particularly since
intravenous drug use is not common .
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Country profiles: Pacific overview