rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

The relevant legislation for alcohol is the
Alcoholic Beverage Control Act 1971, last
revised in 2004. In addition, there is a Driving
Under the Influence Act, updated in 2004,
which includes provisions for breath testing
and increasing the severity of penalties with
every offence.
Law enforcement
The Marshall Islands is included under the
jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Field Division,
Honolulu District Office (HDO). The HDO has
an area of responsibility that encompasses
the State of Hawaii, Guam, the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated
States of Micronesia and American
Samoa. 409 The Marshall Islands was not represented
at the December 2008 meeting of
the Pacific Islands Law Officers’ Network.
Health
Searches indicate that the Marshall Islands
is a treatment destination for people from
mainland United States, which may impact
on drug supply, use and patterns. It is not
clear if these programs are accessible and
affordable for locals. 410 The 2008 substance
abuse epidemiological survey also identified
the need for a clearer understanding and
recording of treatment statistics not available
at the time the report was prepared.
Non-government organisations
There is an NGO network website, but no
NGOs have been identified with a specific
mission around drugs and alcohol. However,
there appear to be a number of private drug
and alcohol treatment centres.
85
409 Drug Enforcement Administration fact sheets, available at: (accessed January 2009).
410 United States Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Treatment
Improvement Exchange: Marshall Islands (2009). Available at: (accessed March 2009).
Marshall Islands