19 December, 2025, 5:25 am Central - 22°C Clouds

We need to act urgently to find out and assist the children that are turning to drugs - Inspire Pacific Co-founder

We need to act urgently to find out and assist the children that are turning to drugs - Inspire Pacific Co-founder

By Karishma Kumari
31/08/2023
Inspire Pacific Co-founder and Program Director Ben Morrison

We need to act urgently to find out and assist the children that are turning to drugs as many are starting to think that this will satisfy their internal issues which they struggle with in terms of security, value, worth, confidence, safety and in trying to be around with the right people.

This has been highlighted by Inspire Pacific Co-founder and Program Director Ben Morrison during fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan when questioned on the involvement of students and youths in drugs and glue sniffing and being targeted by drug dealers.

Morrison says those who take drugs have a symptom of a deeper issue.

Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran says children get easily affected by judgment and criticism as most of the time, people see them and judge them, which they feel and get affected by.

When questioned on tackling the issue of drugs, Kiran says the police and the Ministry of Education are trying to identify issues, counsel people and remove accessibility however, there needs to be a lot of awareness and real case studies done as well. She says there will be a shift if there is enough support and information provided.

The Assistant Minister further says in the Central Division, some parents leave home for work early morning, return late and do not spend much time with their children or see them.

She says after 3.30pm is when the majority of the damage is done whereby children are loitering around in town.

Kiran says we need to think outside the box on how we look after our children.

You can watch the full Straight Talk interview below.

FEATURE NEWS
Traffickers exploit victims in hotels, homes, and massage parlours in Fiji - US Report
Traffickers exploit victims in commercial sex establishments, hotels, private homes, and massage parlours in Fiji, and sometimes utilize websites and ...
12 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Young teacher mourns grandmothers' death day before graduation
26-year-old Shivendra Shiamal Sharma experienced a deeply bittersweet moment after losing his grandmother just a day before graduating as a primary ...
10 hours ago

Seruiratu questions merger of Sugar Ministry with Agriculture
Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu has raised serious concerns regarding the Prime Minister's decision for the Minister for ...
11 hours ago

Cheap seed oils are not good for our health - O'Neill
With over 80 percent of deaths in Fiji caused by cardiovascular disease based on the 2011 report, naturopath and nutritionist Barbara O’Neill is ...
11 hours ago

ACP Vusonilawe calls for community action as alcohol-fuelled incidents rise
With alcohol-fuelled incidents on a rise, Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Kasiano Vusonilawe is calling on community members to intervene ...
12 hours ago

Flagstaff and Rewa St drug cases to be called on New Year's Eve
The cases for Flagstaff drug accused Joshua Ravula and Yin Qing Qing and Rewa Street drug accused Yu Yang Feng, Minghui Dai, Zhou Lan, Ginna Choi, ...
13 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Fiji needs to act on human trafficking indicators associated with Grace Road Group
The United States has expressed serious concern about human trafficking indicators linked to the Grace Road Group in Fiji, as highlighted in the 2025 ...
11 hours ago

Human trafficking allegations and issues relating to Grace Road Group
Human trafficking allegations and concerns linked to the Grace Road Group/+ARTICLE-311061+ARTICLE/PM says Govt cannot interfere into any human ...
21 hours ago

Sonia Shanaaz says silent treatment hurts as she waits for assistance for her daughter with cerebral palsy
Sonia Shanaaz, the mother of 10-year-old Aarna who was born with cerebral palsy, says silent treatment hurts after she reached out to the ...
7 days ago

TOP