rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
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6.4 Licit drug trends
As described earlier, a comprehensive epidemiological
overview of substance use in
the Marshall Islands was prepared in 2008.
The report focused on alcohol and tobacco,
but noted data availability as a fundamental
limitation of the review, with sources dating
from a variety of surveys spanning the
period 2002–2007.
Alcohol
In 2005, severe alcohol problems were
reported in the Marshall Islands, particularly
with youth aged 17–30 years. 402 Alcohol is
considered a key cause of domestic violence
in addition to being a contributing factor for
up to 70 per cent of criminal arrests. 403 The
Marshall Islands also has a very high suicide
rate, with the Ministry of Health suggesting
that alcohol consumption is a contributing
factor in 93 per cent of cases. 404 In 2004,
suicide was fifth in the top 10 causes of
death. 405 Police data issued by the Statistics
Office report that drunk and disorderly conduct
was by far the most common reason
for arrest in every year from 2000 to 2004. 406
Kava
While kava (sakau) consumption is reported
to occur in the Marshall Islands, only a
2006–07 prenatal survey of consumption
(rate of 1.7 per cent) among adult women
was included in the 2008 Marshall Islands
epidemiological profile.
6.5 Local responses
Legislation
The relevant drug control legislation is the
Narcotic Drugs (Prohibition and Control) Act
1987. The legislation, last revised in 2004,
includes provisions for synthetic drugs. The
Marshall Islands has still not acceded to the
1988 United Nations drug convention, but
it is a signatory to counter-terrorism financing
legislation and has enacted anti-money
laundering laws. 407,408
402 Marshall Islands country profile, The Globe (Global Alcohol Policy Alliance), Pacific Issue
no.1, 2005.
403 Ibid.
404 Ibid.
405 Republic of the Marshall Islands Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (2007), available
at: (accessed
March 2009); suicide did not appear in the top 10 causes of death in 2005.
406 Republic of the Marshall Islands Economic Policy, Planning and Statistics Office (2007), available
at: (accessed March
2009).
407 International Narcotics Control Board, Annual Report 2008. Available at: (accessed March 2009).
408 US Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, International Narcotics
Control Strategy Report 2005: Marshall Islands. Available at: (accessed March 2009).