Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

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Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region 82 2 .14 The Pacific Pacific overview includes Papua New Guinea (population 5,420,280); Fiji (population 880,874); Solomon Islands (population 523,617); Vanuatu (population 202,609); Samoa (population 177,714); Tonga (population 110,237) . 2 .14 .1 Overview of recent drug trends While the severity of drug abuse is purported to vary between the six island countries listed for this review, the main illicit drug of concern, cannabis, is the same . Key informants offered that drugs such as heroin, methamphetamines and cocaine are not commonly used due to their high cost compared to the average income . Cannabis is generally consumed with alcohol . Regionally, cannabis is mainly smoked but it is also chewed and sometimes baked with flour . All data sources agreed that cannabis use is strongly gender-linked, with significantly more males than females using it . The majority of cannabis users are young, aged approximately 15–20 years . Cannabis is also used in the expatriate community and by tourists . There were a number of anecdotal reports by key informants regarding inhalant use in the countries under investigation . The most widely used inhalant is petrol . 2 .14 .2 Prevalence of drug use There are no formal surveillance systems in place for illicit drug use and its associated harms . Much of the research undertaken on substance use is anthropological in nature, principally concerned with traditional drugs and mainly undertaken in Papua New Guinea . There are some exceptions: for example, work has been published on the consumption of alcohol and other drugs in Oceania; and more recently research has been undertaken on illicit drug use (mostly cannabis) in Papua New Guinea . There has, however, been little systematic research undertaken on drugs such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Samoa and Vanuatu . Regional overviews undertaken by organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the US Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Bureau for International Narcotics Law Enforcement report on drug trafficking and seizures of heroin, cocaine and methamphetamines . Four case studies have examined substance use in particular settings . 2 .14 .3 Drug supply Cannabis is the drug the region is known to produce . The Pacific environment provides ideal growing conditions for cannabis and allows for continuous year-round cultivation . Wild growth occurs in all of the countries listed for this review . Limited options and market opportunities in the agricultural sector have resulted in illicit cultivation of cannabis, predominantly for domestic consumption . Illicit commercial cultivation of cannabis occurs in island states such as Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga . According to key informants, cannabis cultivation is most significant in Papua New Guinea and Fiji . Historically, most cannabis cultivation was undertaken by individuals or small groups within village environments . More recently, it is believed, in a number of jurisdictions in the Pacific, that cannabis cultivation is being taken over by organised criminal groups on a national basis . The only documented international trading of drugs from the Pacific is of cannabis, originating from Papua New Guinea, trafficked mainly to Australia . Of major concern to authorities is the trade of drugs for guns in Papua New Guinea . Trading usually takes place in coastal cities like Lae, Madang, Wewak or Port Moresby . The major form of trafficking is transhipment — drugs produced elsewhere transit Pacific islands for the destination market . The concern for the Pacific region is, if large amounts of illicit drugs are moving through local communities, then seepage of the drugs into local communities will result and the social impacts of drug dependency will be experienced . 2 .14 .5 Summary table Estimated number of current drug users NA Main drugs used Cannabis Drugs injected NA Estimated prevalence of HIV infection among IDUs NA 2 .14 .4 Drug-taking practices, risk factors and trends In addition to the direct impact of drug use to the individual, there is 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, and the disinhibiting effects of drugs) . Increases in HIV have been noted in Papua New Guinea . 83 Country summaries: the Pacific
Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in the Asia–Pacific region 84 2 .14 .6 Country responses Policy and legislation Agreements and treaties Country 1961 Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1988 Convention against Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Fiji + + + Papua New Guinea + + – (under discussion) Samoa – – – Solomon Islands + – – Tonga + + + Vanuatu – – – National drug control policy No Main drug control The region is focused on developing and implementing new legislation drug control legislation that provides a common base for law enforcement agencies to operate from both nationally and regionally . Drug control policy lead agency Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat at a regional level Law enforcement bodies Police, Customs, Excise Department, and Immigration . More recently the region has taken a whole-of-government approach to transnational crime issues and is working closely with the Navy, Defence, Police and Customs . Drug use addressed in last National HIV/AIDS Plan No Possession of N&S unlawful No Harm reduction No interventions Needle and syringe programs (NSPs) No Peer-based approaches Yes, for sexual transmission of HIV/AIDS Supply reduction No regional policies in place Crop eradication No Demand reduction No regional policies in place Treatment No formal alcohol and drug treatment in the six countries . Drug use/abuse issues are generally targeted as part of life counselling or other programs undertaken by NGOs and churches . Psychiatric units in some countries such as Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Fiji will treat some patients whose condition is linked to drug use . Voluntary or self-referral Yes Compulsory No Methadone for No detoxification Substitution therapy No Most common type Counselling of treatment provided Prevention of HIV No among drug users Primary prevention Apart from Papua New Guinea, there are no initiatives against primary prevention of illicit drugs . School-based education For Papua New Guinea, there is some education in schools about marijuana through the Ministry of Education, but there are no specific activities carried out by the Ministry of Health apart from heath education campaigns on the general problems of alcohol and violence . 85 Country summaries: the Pacific
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Illicit Drug use in the Asia Pacific Region - Burnet Institute

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