FIJIANS must stop “patching the wounds” of the drug crisis and start preventing it at its roots.
Justice permanent secretary for Justice Selina Kuruleca made this remark as she called for communities to shift from a reactive approach to a proactive one in addressing the growing drug problem.
“We’re a group of people that are very good at saying, don’t worry about it — that needs to stop,” she said.
She stressed that drug use could not be discussed in isolation from trauma, including intergenerational trauma, which she said continues to affect families and communities.
“We can’t talk about drug use without talking about trauma and in many cases, intergenerational trauma.”
Ms Kuruleca said vulnerability, exploitation and substance abuse were interconnected.
“I see that vulnerability, exploitation and substance abuse feed each other in a very vicious cycle.
“If we want change, we must stop patching the wound and start preventing it.”
She outlined efforts by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection to shift from what she described as an “assistance mindset” to an “empowerment mindset”.
“Empowerment means that we need new structures, new resources and law reform. Having a slogan doesn’t work anymore.”
Within the Ministry of Women, she said empowerment programs now include community-based counselling delivered through partner organisations, parent and family outreach initiatives, drug awareness campaigns in schools, doctor-led targeting following findings from the multidimensional child poverty report, and partnerships aimed at building appropriate rehabilitation spaces.
However, she acknowledged that government-led initiatives alone would not be sufficient.
“The Ministry of Women, the Ministry of Justice, we can’t do it by itself.
“We must all go together.”
