Seruiratu says drugs and apparent abuse a serious concern

Drug finds on our shores lately, and the apparent abuse of drugs within our communities, are serious causes for concern.

Opposition Leader, Inia Seruiratu highlighted this while responding to President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu's opening address in Parliament, saying that drug abuse is a critical global issue with far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the individual dealer and the user, deeply impacting families, communities and national economies.

Seruiratu says dependence on drugs leads to breakdown of the societal fabric, increased crime rates and causes immense financial burdens on healthcare and law enforcement apparatus.

He says, worse still, drug use erodes trust and emotional bonds, often leading to the breakdown of family units.

The Opposition Leader says the issue of HIV/AIDS in Fiji, as an offshoot of the prevalence of drug use affecting many of our youths, should be a matter of national concern.

He says the spread of HIV/AIDS in Fiji, which, according to some sources, is the fastest growing in the world today, is something we should not be proud of; it is an epidemic.

Seruiratu says in 2024 alone, a total of 1,583 new cases of HIV/AIDS were reported, which was over three times higher than in 2023.

He says that in just the first half of 2025, a total of 1,226 new cases were reported.

The Opposition Leader says the surge is largely driven by unsafe needle-sharing drug practices, including blue-toothing.

He says while HIV/AIDS is growing, Non-Communicable Diseases remain the leading cause of death in Fiji, responsible for approximately 80 percent of deaths in Fiji.

Seruiratu says a survey carried out in 2025 revealed that 98.5 percent of adults in Fiji have at least one major NCD risk, such as high blood pressure, tobacco use, obesity, unhealthy diets, etc.

Insert: Seruiratu on NCDS Mar 9

He says the government offers intervention measures with the support of our international partners.

Seruiratu adds that a lot of the intervention programmes in place are remedial in nature.

The Opposition Leader says we need to think hard about preventative measures that seek to nip the matter in the bud.