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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Methodology for the Pacific
There is very little documented information
regarding illicit drug use in the Pacific .
Additionally, there is no established network
of people knowledgeable about illicit drug
use in the region . With the exception of the
literature review, a different approach was
undertaken for data collection in Pacific
countries . A contact network of people
working in the Pacific who could provide
information on the illicit drug use situation
was established . Following this, information
on the core areas of interest was collected
through telephone interviews and, to a lesser
degree, via email correspondence .
In order to validate information obtained
from regional reports and initial interviews,
a focus group (based in Melbourne) was
conducted with eight people working in the
Pacific . Participants represented the Centre
for International Health, Burnet Institute; the
Centre for Harm Reduction, Burnet Institute;
World Vision; and the International Women’s
Development Association . One participant
was a journalist in the Pacific while another
was a consultant who had undertaken international
aid work in the Pacific . Participants
were provided with a document outlining the
core areas of the situation assessment and
information collected to date on each area .
The group worked through the document
and made comments regarding accuracy of
the information . The group also provided
suggestions for other relevant contacts .
In-country review of profiles
A draft of the country profiles was sent to
at least two in-country representatives for
validation of information .
Human Development Index (HDI)
The HDI rank was used in the country profiles
to give a broad view of each country’s
development . The HDI is a composite index
measuring average achievement in three basic
dimensions of human development — a long
and healthy life, knowledge and a decent
standard of living . A lower rank indicates
better development .
Definition of drug treatment
The contemporary model of drug treatment
(according to the United Nations Office on
Drugs and Crime (UNODC)) focuses on detoxification,
stabilisation, rehabilitation and
continuing care . Incarceration and education
alone are not regarded as treatment . This
report presents information about drug treatment
as conceived by the country in which
the data were collected . It is acknowledged
that the Asian model of treatment may be
different from that of UNODC .
2 . Country summaries
2 .1 Brunei Darussalam
Population: 365,251
2 .1 .1 Overview of
recent drug trends
The main drugs in use appear to be methamphetamine
and cannabis . There have been
no known seizures of heroin since 2002;
potential heroin use is likely but cannot
be confirmed . Use of ecstasy appears to be
minor . The Government of Brunei considers
drug problems a concern, but does not
consider consumption to be widespread; in
particular, there is little acknowledgement of
the existence of injecting drug use .
2 .1 .2 Prevalence of drug use
There are no estimates, official or unofficial,
of the number of drug users in Brunei; there
have been no surveys of drug use among
the general population or the student/youth
population .
2 .1 .3 Drug supply
No cultivation or production of any form of
narcotics has been reported from Brunei as
of 2003 . Despite the dense jungles and rivers
along the borders and coastline of Brunei
— ideal for drug trafficking — the size of the
country allows government authorities to
closely monitor the country . The amount of
drugs entering or transiting through Brunei
is minor; what drugs are smuggled into the
territory are usually from Malaysia .
2 .1 .4 Drug-taking practices,
risk factors and trends
Most drug consumption would seem to
be oral, and not by inhalation or injection .
Information about drug-taking practices
and associated risk factors was not able to
be accessed . By the end of 2004 there was
a cumulative total of 609 HIV infections
(males 89%) and 23 AIDS cases . Mode of transmission
was reported for 542 of these cases,
of which only one was injecting drug use .
However, it needs to be noted that this figure
conflicts with previous HIV/AIDS notification
figures (from 2002–03) in which apparently
3 .8 per cent of diagnosed HIV infections were
linked to the sharing of needles .
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Country summaries: Brunei Darussalam