Alice Fong, a Divisional Counsellor with the Ministry of Education in the Western Division, has reported an alarming trend of increased marijuana use among Indo-Fijian girls in schools. Speaking at the Arya Pratinidhi Sabha of Fiji Women’s Conference in Lautoka, she emphasized that this issue is relevant regardless of cultural background.
Fong stated, “Don’t assume that just because a majority of women here are Indian, it means my Indian daughter wouldn’t engage in drug use.” She recounted her experiences visiting schools where she encountered Indian girls who were smoking marijuana.
Encouraging parents to have open discussions with their children, she warned against the misconception that such conversations might lead to experimentation with drugs. Fong urged parents to educate themselves about the issue by researching current statistics and understanding the local context.