Children as young as 10 to 14 years old are becoming trapped in drug addiction in Fiji, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran told Parliament last week.
Ms Kiran said decades of exposure to illicit drugs had left families vulnerable, despite efforts by national taskforces to disrupt drug supply chains.
“Most concerning of all, children as young as 10 years to 14 years of age are now becoming trapped in the cycle of addiction,” she said.
“These figures are not merely statistics — they reflect a profound national challenge that demands coordinated, compassionate and evidence-based intervention.”
Ms Kiran said police records traced the influx of hard drugs to before 2009, with the situation continuing to worsen.
She said Fiji recorded 1501 illicit substance cases in 2020, including 100 involving methamphetamine and four involving cocaine.
“The data paints a sobering picture,” she said.
Ms Kiran said the impact was being seen through rising youth mortality, crime and public health risks, including HIV transmission through shared needles.
She said Fiji had historically lacked an integrated recovery programme specifically designed for adolescents, while a shortage of specialist child psychologists and psychiatrists had also affected treatment outcomes.
“Today, Madam Deputy Speaker, we are actively changing this narrative,” Ms Kiran said.
She said Government, in partnership with Empower Pacific, had established Fiji’s first dedicated residential recovery facility for adolescent boys aged 14 to 17.
The Lautoka facility, named Na Sala Vou — “a new pathway for our boys” — provides a structured environment for young people to recover, learn and rebuild their lives.
“This represents a monumental milestone, Madam Deputy Speaker, and a powerful statement of our belief that every child deserves a second chance, that recovery is possible, and that healing is our collective responsibility,” Ms Kiran said.
