Drug abuse cases in schools are increasing, says Substance Abuse Advisory Council acting CEO Josua Naisele.
Mr Naisele told the Fiji Principals Association Conference and AGM in Suva last week that thousands of cases were recorded last year.
“As you are all aware, there are licit and illicit drugs that are currently being used or abused by the students in schools,” he said.
“Some new trends are currently happening in schools. If you look at alcohol and other drugs cases in 2021 to 2023, 1959 cases were recorded in 2021, 2022 recorded 1643 cases, and in 2023 it went up to 2049.
“In secondary schools last year, it went up to 2500.
“In primary schools, 1000 cases were recorded. Before we used to have a lot of drug cases in secondary schools, but now primary schools are also coming up.
“So, the types of drugs we are dealing with here are hard drugs, marijuana (786), methylated spirit (four), home brew (111). Home brew cases come mostly from maritime schools.”
Mr Naisele said they also recorded 387 cases of children abusing inhalants, hand sanitizers and premix.
Also recorded were 256 cases of alcohol consumption, 2353 cases of suki, 1407 cases of tobacco and 240 cases of kava consumption.
Mr Naisele said no methamphetamine use was reported last year, however, two cases were recorded early this year.
