The Catholic Church in Fiji is labeling those trafficking drugs as murderers and merchants of death, stressing that trafficking constitutes direct cooperation with grave evil.
Archbishop Peter Loy Chong says that the drug problem starts at home and is rooted in a lack of strong family foundations and love.
He advocates for social tools rather than just legal ones, suggesting that youths turn to drugs to fill basic human needs when they feel disconnected.
He says drugs are a false satisfaction and a way to escape reality rather than face it with God's help.
The Archbishop says while condemning drug use, the Church advocates for treating addicts with compassion, acting like a good Samaritan to help them recover their dignity.
They say the church does not accept the distinction between hard and soft drugs, arguing that all recreational drug use causes serious harm to health, mind, and soul.
They stress that unlike illicit drugs, moderate, non-excessive use of alcohol and tobacco is not considered inherently immoral, though they can be abused and violating the virtue of temperance.
The Archdiocese says the use of drugs for pleasure or to escape reality is immoral and the Church actively supports treatment, counseling, and spiritual support for those struggling with addiction.
