Drug Abuse in the Global Village
Drug Abuse in Asia
Primary Prevention in the Pacific

PRIMARY PREVENTION

AUSTRALIA
In the beginning, in 1985, the focus of the Australian National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) was on treatment. In 1989, Austra­lia shifted its emphasis to prevention. The new approach uses education and social market­ing programs to change norms held by Australians in relation to drug abuse in order to modify their behaviours in the long term. Ongoing evaluations of NCADA appear to be encouraging, indicating that global strategies and policies are effective in reducing drug abuse (Department of Health 1992).

            NCADA supported a wide variety of prevention programmes. During 1988-89, there were 69 projects operated in 344 centres, 5,300 schools, 2,116 community groups and 80 government departments. The activities which included media campaigns, local drug information centres, a mobile resources centre, educational resources, community based programmes and educational programmes targeted at teachers, parents, students at different levels, medical practitioners, women, aborigines and other special cultural groups among others (Department of Health 1992).

FIJI
Preventive education is reported carried out in primary and secondary schools through lectures, and forms part of the curricula in secondary schools. Drug education is part of the basic training of social workers and law enforcement personnel. An anti-drug radio youth programme was aired between 1991 and 1993 (CMO 1991).

            The Ministries of Education and Information and the Police Department are responsible for the development and implementation of appropriate programmes in the area of drug abuse. These programmes are aimed at informing the general public of the dangers of drug abuse, bringing about attitudinal changes among drug abusers and reducing the dependence of drug addicts. Target groups are mainly school children and youth in general (Fiji 1991).

FRENCH POLYNESIA
Preventive education is carried out in primary and secondary schools and institutions of higher education using videos, talks and lectures. Adult drug preventive education is reported carried out through mass media campaigns, through parent associations and in the work place. Preventive education is provided to teachers, medical personnel and social workers. A national anti-alcohol day is organized to sensitize the general public of the dangers of alcohol abuse. Leaflets and posters are published and television programmes with anti-drug information are aired targeted at the general population (U.N. 1990). Cartoons have been used for drug preventive education of youth 6 to 12 years old (U.N. 1988).

NAURU
No information reported by 31st December 1993.

NEW CALEDONIA
No information reported by 31st December 1993.

NEW ZEALAND
A number of drug-education programmes are provided in schools for various age groups (U.N. 1989). The Department of Education uses a module-type system for health education in primary and secondary schools emphasizing positive life-style (U.N. 1986).

            The Drug Education Directory through its sections, Drug Education Programmes, Drug Education Resource Organizations, Community Organizations and Resource Materials provide drug education programmes and resources for various age groups (Directory 1992).

            Media promotes drug prevention programmes like articles, drama and music aimed at various target groups. Drug education programmes are provided for various professional groups and at workplaces. Hospitals, clinics, church and private organizations offer group therapy (U.N. 1992).

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Drug preventive activities are reported almost non existent mainly because of lack of funds (U.N. 1992). In 1991, activities on drug prevention are reported to have been kept on a low key as a result of threat from drug barons (CMO 1990). The need for assistance in formulating awareness programmes for specific target groups (parents, teachers, students) has been expressed (U.N. 1992).

            Drug education is not part of the curricula of primary schools, secondary schools and higher education. Some preventive activities are carried out in some secondary schools with the use of slides, brochures and lectures. These cover about 5 per cent of the students enrolled (U.N. 1992).

            Drug education is not part of the training of any relevant professional groups (like doctors, social workers, law enforcement, teachers). Newspapers are reported to have published articles regarding drug abuse (U.N. 1992).

            The Education Division of the NNB is reported to have started a nationwide anti-drug campaign. As of October 1993, posters, pamphlets and videos were distributed in the Central Province and the capital. This campaign is to be extended to the 6 major towns of the country (DETPR 1993).

SOLOMON ISLANDS
No information reported by 31st December 1993.

TONGA
Weekly Radio Programmes on drug prevention are aired aimed at the general public. Informal talks are reported held in villages, aimed at parents to influence their children. The results are reported as satisfactory (U.N. 1990).

WESTERN SAMOA
Peer-resistance programmes implemented in schools or community settings teach young people about the dangers of drug abuse. Health promotion programmes are aimed to prevent behaviour which are liable for drug abuse. Drug education programmes are aimed at home and community (Samoa 1993).