rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Inhalants
While not illegal, the increasing use of inhalants
is of particular significance and requires
further study. Such use has been increasingly
reported in Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
PDARN delegates from other countries report
sniffing of various substances but none
to the extent reported in Fiji. 84 While it has
not been reported in Papua New Guinea, a
considered decision was taken to avoid discussing
it as part of the Tingim Laip response
to substance use activities to avoid curiosity
and experimentation among program participants.
85 Inhalant use is commonly a youthspecific
issue and it appears to follow the
same pattern where it occurs in the Pacific.
Tobacco
High rates of tobacco smoking and community
acceptance of the practice have been
reported in a number of publications relating
to the Pacific. 86 While recognising that
smoking is a significant contributor to health
issues, especially among youth in the Pacific,
this analysis notes that, in contrast to
other substance use considered here, there
has been a relatively significant response
to tobacco use, with the majority of PICTs
signing up to the United Nations Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control as a
starting point. 87 In addition, countries such
as Tonga have responded by convening a
National Committee on Tobacco Control to
begin addressing the health effects of its
consumption. 88 Pacific approaches to tobacco
control are of significance, as many
of the structural forces at work in the alcohol
industry are similar to the tobacco industry,
e.g. industry sponsorship of sporting
and cultural events. 89 In addition, the shift to
commercially manufactured cigarettes as a
symbol of modernised, westernised ‘sophistication’
90 mirrors the preference for imported
alcoholic beverages in many PICTs. Denying
people access to products by prohibitionist
regimes may be interpreted as Western attempts
to prevent people from accessing the
benefits of globalisation and modernisation.
Local production of tobacco and alcohol is
also considered a good source of income
and employment in addition to government
revenues raised from their sale and import.
Finally, religion has been shown to play a
role in the decision of Pacific Islanders to
smoke, or not — a scenario that may be
similarly tested for alcohol. 91
17
84 4th PDARN meeting, Vanuatu, July 2009.
85 Tingim Laip is an AusAID-funded activity; personal communication, 2009.
86 M. Marshall (1991), The second fatal impact: cigarette smoking, chronic disease, and the
epidemiological transition in Oceania, Social Science and Medicine, 33(12): 1327–1342.
87 With the exception of Tokelau.
88 Key informant interview, 2009.
89 Above, fn.86.
90 Ibid.
91 Ibid. Anti-smoking campaigns occurred as early as the 1830s; in some cases being a non-smoker
was a requirement for membership of a congregation.
Regional overview