Investigations have shown that students found in possession of marijuana at schools often have prior experience with suki or cigarettes, indicating that marijuana is typically their third substance of choice. Josua Naisele, acting director of the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council, highlighted this progression, suggesting that children are transitioning from legal substances to illegal ones.
Speaking at the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji Women’s Conference in Lautoka, Mr. Naisele explained that when counseling students who have been caught with marijuana, they often disclose their earlier use of suki and cigarettes. “Marijuana can be their third drug, and they climb up like this step by step,” he noted. He urged parents to be vigilant and discourage their children from smoking either cigarettes or suki, as introducing these legal substances could lead them to experiment with marijuana.
Mr. Naisele pointed out that the marijuana market in Fiji primarily attracts young individuals. He observed that the hospitals are witnessing a growing number of younger patients experiencing forgetfulness, often linked to drug use. The use of marijuana is known to cause damage to brain cells, contributing to a rise in patients requiring treatment at facilities like St Giles Hospital.