Investigations have indicated that students found with marijuana in schools typically have a history of using suki or cigarettes, making marijuana their third drug. Josua Naisele, the acting director of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council, commented on this trend during his address at the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji Women’s Conference in Lautoka on Saturday, stating that children seem to be “graduating” from legal substances to illegal ones.
“When students are brought to us for counseling after being caught with marijuana, they often report that they started with suki and then cigarettes,” Mr. Naisele explained. He noted that marijuana often becomes the next step in their drug use, advising parents to be vigilant and prevent their children from smoking legal substances.
Mr. Naisele highlighted that the marijuana market in Fiji predominantly targets young individuals. He pointed out a concerning trend in healthcare, where young people are increasingly facing memory issues related to drug use, leading to admissions at facilities like St. Giles Hospital. He emphasized that drug use, particularly marijuana, can significantly harm brain cells and that prevention efforts at home are crucial.