rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
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Executive summary
This situational analysis was commissioned
by the Australian National Council on Drugs
(ANCD) for the Expert Advisory Committee
on Asia–Pacific Regional Drug Issues (EAC).
Following the ANCD-commissioned 2004–
2005 Situational Analysis of Illicit Drug
Issues and Responses in the Asia–Pacific Region,
1 EAC decided that an analysis focusing
on the Pacific region, including both licit and
illicit drug use, was required.
While acknowledging that scientific understanding
of drug and alcohol use in the
Pacific remains somewhat limited, this
assessment recognises the risks for drugrelated
crime as identified by international
and regional law enforcement agencies for
more than a decade. Information collected
by enforcement organisations and networks
suggests that illicit drugs are becoming
an increasing concern in the region. More
importantly, health and other community
services have begun to highlight the social
and economic costs of high levels of alcohol
use as an area of increasing concern.
In this context, a review of published and
grey literature, key informant interviews and
broad consultations have been undertaken
to inform development of detailed country
profiles. These highlight existing issues, risks
and responses, and will inform the development
of recommendations for future research
activities, policy development and programmatic
interventions. In addition, a regional
overview drawing out common issues and
challenges has been prepared to highlight
where existing regional mechanisms may be,
and already have been, employed to address
these issues.
The report provides considered recommendations
for framing appropriate responses
coordinated at the regional level, via regional
and international coordinating mechanisms
and donors.
1 Burnet Institute & Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Centre (2006), Situational Analysis of Illicit
Drug Issues and Responses in the Asia–Pacific Region. ANCD Research Paper 12. Canberra:
Australian National Council on Drugs. Available at: .