rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
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Other
The 2001 Drug Threat Assessment highlighted
increasing methamphetamine (largely
ice) use, but concluded that the source would
likely be Hawaii rather than large-scale local
manufacture. 654 Recent media reports indicate
the presence of methamphetamine and
cocaine, with a man gaoled in 2007 for possession
of 555 grams of cocaine. 655 This view
is supported by the number of drug-related
cases before the courts and in court reports.
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey undertaken
in American Samoa by the United States
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
showed very little change (and usually
a decrease) in alcohol and drug-taking
behaviours from 1999 to 2007. 656 It is not
clear how closely use patterns in Western
Samoa mirror those in American Samoa, but
of interest for future research will be any
discussion on the impact of social determinants
of drug use — for example, the culture
of hospitality and consumption is likely to
affect both countries.
10.4 Licit drug trends
When opium supplies were low, Chinese labourers
manufactured drugs and distilled
proof spirits from cocoa juice, making more
money from these processes in one night
than from a month of plantation work. 657
It is well recorded that Samoan culture dictates
a strong family and community unit
providing support for the whole group. 658
This culture of support has been shown to
influence the drinking patterns of Samoans
resident in New Zealand and may be equally
significant in-country. 659 Consumption patterns
are strongly influenced by the culture
of hospitality and entertaining and the notion
that all food and alcohol provided at
the events must be consumed and that providing
only small quantities is regarded as
parsimonious. 660
654 Above, fn.648.
655 First cocaine defendant in Samoa convicted and sentenced to jail, Radio New Zealand
International, 17 October 2007; Samoa upholds jailing of cocaine convict, Radio New Zealand
International, 12 December 2007; Former Samoa tobacco company boss guilty of drugs crime,
Radio New Zealand International, 24 June 2008 — all available at: (accessed November 2008).
656 Available at:
(accessed November 2008).
657 Above, fn.631; at the time it was not considered an offence to distil spirits.
658 CIA above, fn.622.
659 SHORE/Whariki & Massey University, Pacific Research & Development Services (2004), Pacific
Drugs and Alcohol Consumption Survey 2003: final report, vol.1. Auckland, New Zealand: SHORE.
660 Ibid.