rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

understanding of the issues exists is in part
due to anthropological studies which have
focused on ‘traditional’ drugs. 40 An example
of this is the anthropological approach
to interventions and public policy development
adopted in a 1997 Federated States of
Micronesia study investigating youth substance
use. 41 The kava circle has also been
identified for its potential to provide insight
into patterns of alcohol consumption among
Pacific Islanders, useful for shaping future
responses. However, there may yet be space
to challenge the notion of ‘traditional’ substance
use and cultures of intoxication without
ignoring the insight that existing studies
provide into evolving patterns of substance
use and emerging cultures.
Among Pacific Islander populations in New
Zealand the language of substance use has
been important in understanding consumption
patterns and protective factors. With an
understanding of the language of consumption,
successful targeted and appropriate
interventions have been developed. Finally
the potential benefits of the rules governing
cultural ritual such as fa’asamoa and
kastom, and their capacity to operate as protective
factors in managing drug and alcohol
issues, need to be more fully understood.
Gender
It is important to understand the interaction
of substance use across genders in
the Pacific. A number of the study countries
reported relatively limited alcohol use
among women, which often decreased with
age. This mirrors the traditional kava consumption
which has been restricted to men,
with women participating in the preparation
process only. However, countries such
as Vanuatu are reporting concerns with
increased use of all substances among young
women. 42 The association between substance
use and violence is an ongoing concern for
people in the region. A recent Asian Development
Bank (ADB) report highlighted the
contribution of substance use to violence
and other hardship for women particularly
in the Marshall Islands, Nauru, the Federated
States of Micronesia, Kiribati and the
Solomon Islands. 43 Many of the PDARN participants
have reported the social impacts
of substance use as a concern, with family
members often absent for long periods of
time spent drinking or in kava sessions. In
contrast, gender-based violence was highlighted
as a key development challenge in
the region in a recent AusAID report, with
only limited assessment of the role substance
use plays in this issue. 44
9
40 M.L. Devaney, G. Reid et al. (2006), Illicit drug use and responses in six Pacific Island countries.
Drug and Alcohol Review, 25(4): 387–390.
41 F.X. Hezel (1997), Alcohol and Drug Use in the Federated States of Micronesia: an assessment of
the problem with implications for prevention and treatment. Pohnpei: Micronesian Seminar (on
behalf of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment): discusses research with an emphasis on the
cultural barriers influencing the methodology.
42 Studies are not consistent in their definition of ‘youth’, with the range often as broad as
15–30 years.
43 G. Nelson (2008), Gender Profiles of Asian Development Bank’s Pacific Developing Member
Countries. Manila: ADB.
44 AusAID (2008), Violence against Women in Melanesia and East Timor: a review of international
lessons. Canberra: AusAID.
Regional overview