Drug Abuse in the Global Village
Drug Abuse in Asia
New Caledonia

EXTENT, PATTERNS AND TRENDS IN DRUG ABUSE

Extent of Drug Abuse

Drugs reported abused are cannabis, opiates and volatile solvents. An estimated 2,500 annual and 150 daily abusers of cannabis, 300 annual and 200 daily abusers of volatile solvents, and 3 annual and 1 daily abusers of opiates were reported for 1986 (U.N. 1986).

No epidemiological surveys on the extent of drug abuse in New Caledonia have been conducted. A register of the number of people receiving treatment for drug abuse is kept by the "Centre Hospitalier Spיcialisי, Albert Bousquet" in Nouville (U.N. 1990).

Abuser Characteristics

Cannabis abusers are reported to be mainly males (80 per cent) in the 16 to 25 age group. Students and young unemployed persons are reported most at risk of drug abuse (U.N. 1986).

Regional Variations

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

Trends

A slight increase in the abuse of cannabis was reported for the year 1986. The cultivation of cannabis by certain tribes is reported to have resulted in the abuse of cannabis instead of alcohol among these people (U.N. 1986).

Mode of intake

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

 

COSTS AND CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE

No deaths related to drug abuse were reported for the year 1986 (U.N. 1986).

ACTION TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL TREATIES*

Treaty adherence

New Caledonia is not party to the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, or the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

 

NATIONAL RESPONSES TO DRUG ABUSE

National Strategy

No information reported in Annual Reports Questionnaire by 31st December 1993.

 

DEMAND REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

Primary Prevention

No information reported in Annual Reports Questionnaire by 31st December 1993.

Treatment and Rehabilitation

The Centre Hospitalier Spיcialisי Albert Bousquet in Nouville provides treatment for drug addicts. In 1988, a total of 11 drug addicts (including 2 for the first time) were undergoing treatment (U.N. 1988).

 


SUPPLY REDUCTION ACTIVITIES

Arrests, Convictions and types of Offences

In 1990, a total of 33 persons were arrested and convicted for drug related offences (18 for possession/abuse and 15 for trafficking), all related to cannabis. All but four of those convicted were males, most (76 per cent) were between 20 and 24 years of age, and 24 per cent were between 25 and 29 years of age. All of those convicted were unemployed (U.N. 1990).

Seizures

Since 1987, all seizures carried out in New Caledonia involved cannabis (herbal, plants and seeds), except in 1987 when 2g of cocaine were seized (U.N. 1987-1990).

Supply Sources of Drugs

All seized cannabis in 1990 were of local origin (U.N. 1990).

References and Notes

* The Legal, Administrative and Other Action Taken to Implement the International Drug Control Treaties section was prepared by the Secretariat of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs based on Annual Reports Questionnaires for the years .... (not yet received from CND)

U.N. 1987,1988,1989,1990. Replies to the UNDCP Annual Reports Questionnaires for the years 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990.