The Fiji Police Force is struggling to engage its target demographic of young adults aged 18 to 35 in tackling the country’s drug issues. Assistant Superintendent of Police Reshmi Singh reported that between January and July of this year, 718 individuals in this age group were charged with drug-related offenses, marking the highest number for any age bracket. In addition, there were 20 juveniles and 396 people aged 36 to 55 charged.
ASP Singh expressed concern that the 18-35 age group is absent from community engagement initiatives and places of worship, highlighting that while they frequent nightclubs, they do not participate in community activities. This poses a challenge for the police in finding effective ways to reach out to them.
Families often want their children to receive counseling or participate in awareness programs, but many young adults resist these efforts due to peer influence or have left home. ASP Singh noted that even if they live with their parents, once they are adults, law enforcement cannot mandate their participation in such programs. She emphasized the importance of early nurturing from parents or guardians to steer children away from negative influences.
“It’s very difficult for this group to listen to anyone, including their parents,” she added.