Inia Seruiratu says drugs are now being sold “openly on the roadside” in some areas of Suva.
“The influx of hard drugs has worsened our situation,” he said in Parliament yesterday.
“As was highlighted in the media recently, where young boys were injecting themselves with what appear to be drugs, such is the dire situation we are in now.”
He commended law enforcement’s efforts but said more needed to be done.
“I commend the Fiji Police Force for their awareness campaigns, through the social media on the negative impacts of drug abuse.”
He urged Government to strengthen community-wide awareness frameworks and highlighted a growing link between drug use and rising HIV cases.
“In the first half of 2024 alone the number of new cases of HIV, according to the Substance Abuse Council, was 500 compared to a total of 415 for 2023. These are alarming developments which requires our urgent attention.”
