Drug use among children is an issue that needs to be addressed seriously, says Policing Minister Ioane Naivalurua.
He told the launch of the Hands Across Nasinu initiative last Friday that figures released by the National Substance Abuse Committee to the Fiji Police Force on drug use among children were alarming.
“I’m calling it and referring to it as the scourge — mate vua-vua, mate vukavuka — that has taken its roots into the community, in our homes, in our villages, even in our schools,” Mr Naivalurua said.
“When we think of the data that was conveyed to us by the National Substance Abuse Committee that we share with you — in 2021, there were 2200 cases of national substance abuse all over Fiji. In 2022, 2800 cases and in 2023, 3500 cases.
“I’ve been told, reliably informed, last year’s figure is quite high too.”
Mr Naivalurua challenged the Nasinu Town Council and its stakeholders to come together to address the issue.
“If the indications are, as I’ve just shared with you, then the matter needs to be addressed very, very seriously.
“Where we are, what’s at our back and what’s the future ahead of us? It’s not an easy question.
“Today, there is no time for excuses. Mum and dad, no time for excuses, the communities, no time for excuses, schools, no time for excuses.
“The scourge is here. In fact, the scourge is well ahead of us in some situations.”
Mr Naivalurua said we, as a community could not play a catch-up game.
“We are, in some situations, playing a catching up game. The situation that needs to be confronted, we cannot afford to play a catching up game because the risks are very high for these young ones here.”
