The use of methamphetamine in Fiji presents a unique issue where users predominantly choose to inject the drug. Inshik Sim, the regional coordinator for organized crime analysis and threat monitoring at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), noted that this trend is uncommon in other countries facing meth problems.
This trend correlates with a concerning increase in HIV cases in Fiji, where 85 out of 552 new cases in the first half of 2024 were linked to injection drug use. Sim emphasized that the Fiji Forensic Chemistry Unit has reported collecting discarded syringes in public areas, which, upon testing, have been found to contain methamphetamine.
The findings concerning Fiji’s injecting drug use and its repercussions are outlined in the UNODC report titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges, and Impact,” presented in Suva recently. Sim highlighted the alarming rise in meth usage in Fiji and the accessibility of the drug, describing the injection method among certain user populations as rare compared to global trends.
Typically, most nations dealing with meth issues do not see widespread syringe use. While Sim acknowledged countries like Japan and South Korea as exceptions, he pointed out that injecting drugs is generally avoided. This discrepancy underscores a significant public health concern, especially given the rising rates of HIV in the region.
Furthermore, Sim urged Pacific leaders to modernize outdated legislation, stating that new substances are entering the market rapidly, leaving the Pacific region lagging behind.