Drug Abuse in the Global Village
Drug Abuse in Asia
Pacific Region

Regional Variation of Drug Abuse in the Pacific Region

REGIONAL VARIATIONS

AUSTRALIA
Australia is a Federation of six States and two Territories. Some data is available at the Federal level but some is available only at the State or Territory level. This report is based on national data. In general, heroin and cocaine abusers are more likely to reside in urban centres. Inhalants abusers tend to be non-urban aboriginals and some youth in urban centres (Department of Health 1992).

FIJI
Drug abuse tends to be concentrated in urban areas (U.N. 1990).

FRENCH POLYNESIA
Cannabis is reported abused throughout the country, except for a few smaller atolls. The abuse of hallucinogenic mushrooms is reported only in the production areas in the higher islands (U.N. 1988).

NAURU

No information reported

NEW CALEDONIA
No regional variations in drug abuse are reported (U.N. 1986).

NEW ZEALAND
Cannabis is reported abused more in rural areas, while opiates in urban areas (U.N. 1992).

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
No regional variations in drug abuse are reported (Papua New Guinea 1993).

SOLOMON ISLANDS
No information reported by 31st December 1993.

TONGA
No information reported by 31st December 1993.

WESTERN SAMOA
No information reported by 31st December 1993.