rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
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12.5 Local responses
Legislation
Relevant legislation includes the Dangerous
Drugs Act with Part 5 of the Act outlining
the process for legal proceedings and enforcement.
The Liquor Act provides for the
regulation of alcohol and related offences.
Law enforcement
The Solomon Islands is a member of the
PILON and the PICP. 710 While the RAMSI has
been identified for the potential to exacerbate
substance use issues, its current or potential
role in addressing substance use issue requires
further assessment.
Health
The Ministry of Health addresses substance
use issues as part of the Mental Health Strategic
Plan under strategic objectives 7.1
(substance use and suicide prevention interventions)
and 11.1 (including a survey on
secondary school students’ alcohol, cannabis
and tobacco use). 711 Integrated Mental Health
Services of the Solomon Islands is responsible
for substance use issues. The current focus
areas include alcohol, tobacco and cannabis
use among secondary school students, in
addition to research on the health effects
of betel consumption. 712 A National Alcohol
and Substances Committee was formed in
early 2008, with stakeholders from across
the majority of sectors represented. The need
for increased networking has already been
emphasised, but in July 2009 the committee
had met only twice, with intentions to
meet monthly. 713
A youth mental health situational analysis
identified substance use issues as a key concern.
Of greater concern was a survey assessing
mental health worker attitudes to
people with substance use issues. Before the
provision of training, over 80 per cent of the
respondents demonstrated a discriminative
attitude toward patients with these issues.
Responses are essentially based on ‘substance
abuse’ awareness raising among schools and
other organisations. 714
The 2009 PDARN delegate identified the
intention of the Ministry of Health to undertake
a rapid assessment and response, similar
to those undertaken in Papua New Guinea
and Fiji, to better understand current substance
use trends and issues.
Regulation
The legal drinking age for on-site consumption
of alcohol in the Solomon Islands is 21
years, but there is no age restriction for purchasing
alcohol and consuming it off-site. 715
710 Solomon Islands Country Report to 27th PILON meeting, Port Vila, Vanuatu, 5–9 December
2008, available at:
(accessed March 2009); PICP available at: (accessed March 2009).
711 Personal communication, July 2008.
712 Personal communication, July 2009.
713 Personal communication, July 2009.
714 Personal communication, July 2009.
715 International Center for Alcohol Policies, Minimum Age Limits Worldwide: table available at:
(accessed April 2009).