Methamphetamine use in Fiji is characterized by a concerning trend where users favor intravenous methods. 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 behavior is uncommon in other countries facing meth issues. He linked this trend to the rising rates of HIV in Fiji, highlighting that out of 552 new cases reported in the first half of 2024, 85 were associated with injection use.
The Fiji Forensic Chemistry Unit confirmed that discarded syringes found on the streets tested positive for methamphetamine. This alarming issue is thoroughly examined in the UNODC report titled “Transnational Organized Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges, and Impact,” which was released in Suva.
Mr. Sim emphasized the significant increase in meth use in Fiji over recent years and the ease of access to the drug. He pointed out that while many countries with meth problems do not experience widespread syringe usage, Fiji has become an exception, mirroring trends seen in countries like Japan and South Korea.
Mr. Sim also connected the rising rates of HIV to this syringe use, urging Pacific leaders to modernize legislation to keep pace with emerging substances in the market, asserting that the region is lagging behind.