Drug Abuse in the Global Village
Drug Abuse in Asia
Mode of Intake of Drugs in the Pacific Region

MODE OF INTAKE

AUSTRALIA
A Recent survey of drug abuse in Australia, conducted in 1991, indicate that in addition to cannabis that is smoked, heroin- injected and cocaine- sniffed, there is a special concern relating to the abuse of amphetamines (mostly oral intake but some injection) and hallucinogens (Department of Health 1992).

Further, there seem to be a solid pattern of abuse of inhalants (annual abuse 1 per cent), ecstasy/designer drugs (1 per cent) and injected illicit drugs (1 per cent) (table 1). The abuse of these drugs tends to be associated with most severe consequences such as brain damage for inhalers, higher death rates due to abuse of designer drugs and spread of HIV and Hepati­tis due to unsafe injection practices (Department of Health 1992).

FIJI
Cannabis is reported smoked and inhalants sniffed (U.N. 1989).

FRENCH POLYNESIA
Cannabis is reported smoked and often taken in combination with hallucinogenic mushrooms and/or alcohol. Hallucinogens are reported taken by mouth and volatile solvents inhaled (U.N. 1990).

NAURU
No information reported by 31st December 1993.

NEW CALEDONIA
Cannabis is reported smoked and often taken in combination with alcohol (U.N. 1986).

NEW ZEALAND
Opiates and cocaine are mostly injected, cannabis is smoked or inhaled and hallucinogens are ingested (U.N. 1992).

Marijuana is commonly abused in combination with alcohol (New Zealand 1990).

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Cannabis is reported smoked and taken in combination with alcohol (U.N. 1991), while cocaine is sniffed (U.N. 1992).

SOLOMON ISLANDS
No information reported by 31st December 1993.

TONGA
Cannabis is reported smoked (U.N. 1990).

WESTERN SAMOA
Cannabis is smoked while volatile solvents are sniffed (Samoa 1993).