rp21 situational analysis - Pacific Health Voices

Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific
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1.13 Short-term goals
(6–12 months)
Surveillance
Current data sources include: household
income and expenditure surveys; import and
export data; youth lifestyle and behavioural
surveillance surveys; national census data;
hospitalisation and police accident and injury
data. Much of these data are collected sporadically,
ordinarily for other purposes and,
where focused on substance use, are targeted
toward commonly identified high-risk
groups (e.g. youth and sex workers), leading
to large data gaps for other groups. Analysis
is rarely focused on substance use trends and
impacts. It is therefore essential to:
• build on existing data collection systems
to collect regular data on alcohol and
other drug production and consumption
trends
• advocate for inclusion of specific drug
and alcohol questions in routine surveys
• collaborate with regional initiatives (e.g.
UNODC Global Smart Program)
• engage international agencies, such as the
WHO Western Pacific Regional Office and
the United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime, in data collection, and
• assess the feasibility of developing an
early-warning system for emerging substance
use in individual Pacific Island
countries and regionally.
Research
Much of the current research funding is
sourced via HIV and other development
programs in the region wherein substance
use is considered a risk factor rather than
the central issue. It is essential that targeted
funding be made available to investigate the
extent of social, economic and health consequences
of substance use in the Pacific and
subsequent findings be used to develop appropriate
responses. It is essential to:
• identify and enhance specific funding
sources for alcohol and other drug
research in the Pacific region
• build on the existing momentum behind
the Pacific Drug and Alcohol Research
Network (PDARN) as the network for alcohol
and drug research and data collection
in the Pacific
• adequately resource and manage the
PDARN website as a platform for information
sharing and reporting on alcohol
and other drug issues in the Pacific region
• identify opportunities for research centre
twinning arrangements
• continue to encourage PDARN research
collaborations and networking
• promote capacity building in research
skills through implementation of research
activities, and
• encourage Pacific Islanders to undertake
research, student placements and sabbaticals
with established research institutes
and centres with expertise in alcohol and
other drug research.