Peer pressure and a breakdown of family units are pushing more young people towards the streets and drugs.
Fiji Council of Churches general secretary the Rev Simione Tugi said because of this, there were a lot of urban street dwellers, kids and even students.
“There is violence in schools, syringes are everywhere, outside the nightclubs,” he said.
Mr Tugi said it was worrying to note that students usually hid away to do such illicit acts, however, now they did it openly, “in front of everybody”.
“The problem is the students can’t say anything because the problem of bullying comes back to them, so when they are doing that, it’s like a normal routine.
“Going back to the family, the parents are the most important institution – before they are going to school or church – it has to begin from the homes, and we are urging all the parents to make sure they have time with their children.
“Now they have about eight hours in school, most of the days are spent outside and when they come home the parents are not there and these kids have questions, and if parents are not there, they will take these questions somewhere.”
He said this was where peer pressure came into the picture and why a lot of students were falling into the drug trap.
“It’s not too late, we need to come together. I always say it is demonic, and we need a spiritual intervention. The parents need to go back to church.
“It’s a national issue and all the interfaith organisations are joining together. I mean the Government can’t do this alone and this needs everyone’s attention.”
