Marijuana trade’s impact on young worries NGO

SUVA, Fiji (PINA Nius) — Villagers in the interior of Fiji’s two main islands are believed to be harvesting and selling marijuana for thousands of dollars a kilo.

And teens as young as 15 years are farming the drug as a cash crop and abandoning their education, said Joseph Veramu, of the Fiji Community Education Association.

Mr. Veramu said the economic factor is that villagers receive more money growing marijuana than other agricultural products.

He said the breakdown of culture and the chiefly system also deeply contributes to the drug problem.

He said the problem is “very serious and is a bigger problem than originally anticipated.”

Mr. Veramu said the association stumbled across the evidence while holding educational workshops on sexually transmitted infections.

Mr. Veramu said to substantiate the findings a preliminary survey of young people in the urban centers of Suva, Lautoka, Nadi, Labasa and Savusavu was conducted. It showed that drug use was on the rise.

“While the public has tended to perceive marijuana as the main drug in use, preliminary surveys by the association have identified dramatic increases in the consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and yaqona (kava) in addition to marijuana,” he said.

According to Marika Yalimaiwai, the association’s drug awareness education officer, young Fijians in rural areas are particularly susceptible to the increased use of drugs.

“The breakdown of culture in many villages is affecting personal attitudes.”

Mr. Yalimaiwai confirmed that there were situations in many parts of Fiji where marijuana was cultivated and sold to eager customers at affordable prices.

“Most drug buyers are Fijians so it is a case of Fijians helping to put down Fijians,” he said.

Mr. Yalimaiwai said that media also influence choices, showing that it is “cool” to smoke and drink.

Research has found that drug use affects personal health, work productivity and results in the breakdown of morals.

Mr. Yalimaiwai said that many sexually transmitted infections are the result of sex in an alcohol-induced state.

He said the association has started running drug awareness workshops in Labasa and the greater Suva area.

The association also is planning to run drug awareness programs in Ra, Tavua, Ba, Lautoka, Nadi, Tailevu and the Northern Division.

It is liaising with the Ministry of Youth, provincial offices, schools and other agencies in the fight against drugs.

High schools in the Suva, Nasinu and Nausori areas are also being targeted.