We must break some taboos to address drug problems in Fiji - Naivalurua

We will need to break some taboos and stop pussyfooting around if we want to address the drug issue in Fiji.

This was highlighted by Member of the Opposition in Parliament Ioane Naivalurua while speaking during the Speaker’s Debate.

Naivalurua says we have a Pacific way of life that harnesses the Vanua and he goes on to emphasise the importance of the ability to mobilize everybody, put all our energy together and work together to counter this issue.

He says drugs don't just attack individuals, but also families and communities, and the heavy burden of a son or daughter, spouse or parent caught in the spiral of addiction is first felt within families.

He adds the complex set of disruptive behaviour that accompany addiction causes deep pain within families, then spills out into our streets, our schools and our communities.

Naivalurua says while we are a nation with deep family and community traditions, we are also in a significant transition.

He says government policy and new initiatives from the lotu and the vanua must strengthen our families and communities and we need national stability and opportunity so that our families don't bear the brunt of economic stress and dislocation.

He adds drug education is also needed as an ongoing intervention in our classrooms.

Naivalurua says as we look at targeted prevention, we can see the evidence demonstrates that drug use often begins with experimentation during early adolescence, followed by increases throughout adolescence, reaching a peak during early adulthood.

Naivalurua says rehabilitation and restoration of those caught in the grip of addiction need to be undertaken compassionately and honestly.

He further says that we must build confidence in policing organisations or agencies like the police, the military, and likewise Corrections Services.