Investigations have shown that students found with marijuana in schools often started with substances such as suki or cigarettes, indicating a progression to illegal drug use. Josua Naisele, the acting director of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council, stated that this pattern suggests that children are moving from legal substances to illegal ones.
Speaking at the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji Women’s Conference in Lautoka, Mr. Naisele noted that when students are counseled after being caught with marijuana, they frequently reveal that their first experiences were with suki and cigarettes. He emphasized the importance of parents being vigilant to prevent their children from starting these legal substances, as it could lead them to try marijuana.
According to Mr. Naisele, the current marijuana market in Fiji predominantly affects younger people. He highlighted a concerning trend where health issues related to drug use are increasingly presenting among younger individuals, with a rise in forgetfulness attributed to marijuana consumption, leading many to seek treatment at St. Giles Hospital.