Methamphetamine use in Fiji presents a unique challenge as users increasingly opt for needle injection, a trend not commonly seen in other nations facing meth issues. Inshik Sim, the regional coordinator for organized crime analysis and threat monitoring at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), highlighted that this correlation is concerning, particularly given the rising HIV cases in the country, where 85 out of 552 reported cases in the first half of 2024 were linked to injection drug use.
The Fiji Forensic Chemistry Unit has confirmed that discarded syringes found on the streets test positive for methamphetamine. This alarming trend is outlined in the UNODC report titled “Transnational Organised Crime in the Pacific: Expansion, Challenges, and Impact,” presented in Suva.
Sim expressed concern about the rapid escalation of meth use in Fiji and the ease of access to the drug. He noted that syringe use among meth users is particularly rare when compared to other countries, including Japan and South Korea, where such issues are more common.
The increasing prevalence of syringes is further exacerbating the health crisis in Fiji, contributing to a significant number of new HIV infections. Sim urged Pacific leaders to modernize their drug legislation, stating that the region is lagging in responding to the emergence of new substances in the market.