A perspective on Illicit drug use for Pacific people living in New Zealand
Main Article Content
Keywords
Illicit drugs
Abstract
Historically, alcohol and tobacco use has been the main substance use for Pacific people in New Zealand (NZ).1,2,3 However, more recently, illicit drug use is a new emerging concerning trend amongst Pacific people in New Zealand. Illicit drugs refer to highly addictive and illegal substances such as cannabis, synthetic cannabinoids, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine. Importantly, Pacific youth have been identified as having higher prevalence rates than other age groups in the Pacific population in New Zealand. 4 Although, Pacific people have higher rates of substance abuse, they tend to have lower rates of accessing health service access compared with the New Zealand general population.5 Very little research has examined illicit drug use for Pacific people. With the emergence of rising illicit drug use, there is an urgent needed to identify why illicit drugs will become an issue for Pacific people in the future.
References
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2. McFadden Consultancy. (2016). Research Report: The New Zealand Drug Harm Index 2016. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
3. Nosa, V. Leau, K. Walker, N. (2018a) Cytisine as an alternative smoking cessation product for Pacific smokers in New Zealand. Pacific Health Dialog 2018;21(2):89-9 DOI: 10.26635/phd.2018.919.
4. Matua Raki. (2017). Bridging the Gap: Young people and substance use. Wellington: Matua Raki.
5. Pulotu-Endemann,F. Faleafa, M. (2017). Developing a Culturally Competent Workforce that Meets the Needs of Pacific People Living in New Zealand. In M. Smith & A. Jury (Eds.), Workforce Development Theory and Practice in the Mental health Sector (pp.165-180). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-1874-7.ch008.
6. Nosa, V. Duffy, S. Singh, D. Lavelio, S. Amber, U, Homasi-Paelate, H. Alfred, J. (2018b). The use of homebrew in Pacific Islands Countries and Territories Journal of Ethnicity and Substance Abuse. Ethnography special issue 17(2).
7. Schmich, L. Power, R. (2010). Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific. Canberra: ANCD.
8. Devaney, ML. Reid, G. Baldwin, S. Crofts, N. Power, R. (2006). illicit drug use and responses in six Pacific Island countries. Drug Alcohol Review.25(4):387–90
9. McDonald, D. Elvy, G. Mielke, J. Alcohol in the South Pacific: the mid-1990s. (1997). Drug Alcohol Review. 16:383–90. 13.
10. Howard, J. Ali, H. Robins, L. (2011). Alcohol, cannabis and amphetamine-type stimulants use among young Pacific Islanders. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2011; 30:104–10
11. Howard, J. Ali, H. (2014). Cannabis use among young people in Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 38(1), 89-90.
12. Puamau, E. Roberts, G. Schmich, L. Power, R. (2011). Drug and alcohol use in Fiji: a review, Pacific Health Dialog Mar;17(1):165-71.
13. Odden, HL. (2011). Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and hallucinogenic use in Samoan adolescents. Drug and Alcohol review 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2010.00280
14. Power, R. Schmich, L. Nosa, V. (2015). A response for substance and harm reduction in pacific island countries and territories. Harm Reduct J; 12(1):48.
15. Ryan, D. Grey, C. Mischewski, B. (2019). Tofa Saili: A review of evidence about health equity for Pacific Peoples in New Zealand. Wellington: Pacific Perspectives Ltd. ISBN 978-0-473-48927-4.
16. Ministry of Health. (2020). ’Ola Manuia: Pacific Health and Wellbeing Action Plan, 2020-2025. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
17. Ministry of Health. (2018). ’Ala Mo’ui Progress Report: Pacific health care utilisation. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
18. Ministry of Health (2019). Annual Update of Key Results 2018/19: New Zealand Health Survey. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
19. Ministry of Health. (2018). ʹAla Moʹui Progress Report: Pacific Health care utilisation. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
20. Southwick, M. Kenealy, T. Ryan, D. (2012). Primary Care for Pacific People: A Pacific and Health Systems approach Report to the Health Research Council and the Ministry of Health, Pacific Perspectives, Wellington.
21. Wells, J.E. McGee, M.A. Baxter, J. Agnew, F. Kokaua, J. New Zealand Mental Health Survey Research Team. (2009). Onset and lifetime use of drugs in New Zealand: Results from Te Rau Hinengaro: The New Zealand Mental Health Survey 2003-3—4. Drug and alcohol review, 28(2), 166-174.
22. Newcombe, D. Seini, T. Tanielu, H. Nosa, V. (2019) Substance misuse stories among Pacific peoples in New Zealand. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 14:1, 68-79, DOI: 10.1080/1177083X.2018.1528991
23. Newcombe, D. Tanielu-Stowers, H. McDermott, R. Stephen, J. Nosa, V. (2016). The validation of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) amongst Pacific people in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Psychology. Apr 2016; v.45n.1. p.30-39
24. Indig, D. Gear, C. Wilhelm, K. (2016). Comorbid substance use disorders and mental health disorders among New Zealand prisoners. New Zealand Department of Corrections, Wellington
25. Ministry of Health. (2020). New Zealand Health Survey Annual Data Explorer [Data File]. URL:https://minhealthnz.shinyapps.io/nz-health-survey-2019-20-annual-data explorer (Accessed 28/01/2021)
26. Noller, G. (2014). Synthetic cannabinoid use in New Zealand: Assessing the harms. Report #01. The STAR Trust. Auckland: New Zealand.
27. Hu, X. Primack, B. Barnett, T. & Cook, R. (2011). College students and use of K2: an emerging drug of abuse in young persons. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2011 6:16 available at https://doi-org.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/10.1186/1747-597X-6-16
28. New Zealand Herald. (2018a). Harder than meth: The drug that's killing Kiwis at an alarming rate. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12001582 (Accessed 28/01/2021)
29. Macfarlane, V. Christie, G. (2015). Synthetic cannabinoid withdrawal: a new demand on detoxification services. Drug and alcohol review, 34(2), 147-153.
30. New Zealand Herald. (2018b). A young synthetic drug addict's final hours. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/107741349/a-young-synthetic-drug-addicts-final-hours (Accessed 28/01/2021)
2. McFadden Consultancy. (2016). Research Report: The New Zealand Drug Harm Index 2016. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
3. Nosa, V. Leau, K. Walker, N. (2018a) Cytisine as an alternative smoking cessation product for Pacific smokers in New Zealand. Pacific Health Dialog 2018;21(2):89-9 DOI: 10.26635/phd.2018.919.
4. Matua Raki. (2017). Bridging the Gap: Young people and substance use. Wellington: Matua Raki.
5. Pulotu-Endemann,F. Faleafa, M. (2017). Developing a Culturally Competent Workforce that Meets the Needs of Pacific People Living in New Zealand. In M. Smith & A. Jury (Eds.), Workforce Development Theory and Practice in the Mental health Sector (pp.165-180). Hershey, PA: IGI Global.doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-1874-7.ch008.
6. Nosa, V. Duffy, S. Singh, D. Lavelio, S. Amber, U, Homasi-Paelate, H. Alfred, J. (2018b). The use of homebrew in Pacific Islands Countries and Territories Journal of Ethnicity and Substance Abuse. Ethnography special issue 17(2).
7. Schmich, L. Power, R. (2010). Situational analysis of drug and alcohol issues and responses in the Pacific. Canberra: ANCD.
8. Devaney, ML. Reid, G. Baldwin, S. Crofts, N. Power, R. (2006). illicit drug use and responses in six Pacific Island countries. Drug Alcohol Review.25(4):387–90
9. McDonald, D. Elvy, G. Mielke, J. Alcohol in the South Pacific: the mid-1990s. (1997). Drug Alcohol Review. 16:383–90. 13.
10. Howard, J. Ali, H. Robins, L. (2011). Alcohol, cannabis and amphetamine-type stimulants use among young Pacific Islanders. Drug Alcohol Rev. 2011; 30:104–10
11. Howard, J. Ali, H. (2014). Cannabis use among young people in Pacific Island Countries and Territories. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 38(1), 89-90.
12. Puamau, E. Roberts, G. Schmich, L. Power, R. (2011). Drug and alcohol use in Fiji: a review, Pacific Health Dialog Mar;17(1):165-71.
13. Odden, HL. (2011). Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and hallucinogenic use in Samoan adolescents. Drug and Alcohol review 10.1111/j.1465-3362.2010.00280
14. Power, R. Schmich, L. Nosa, V. (2015). A response for substance and harm reduction in pacific island countries and territories. Harm Reduct J; 12(1):48.
15. Ryan, D. Grey, C. Mischewski, B. (2019). Tofa Saili: A review of evidence about health equity for Pacific Peoples in New Zealand. Wellington: Pacific Perspectives Ltd. ISBN 978-0-473-48927-4.
16. Ministry of Health. (2020). ’Ola Manuia: Pacific Health and Wellbeing Action Plan, 2020-2025. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
17. Ministry of Health. (2018). ’Ala Mo’ui Progress Report: Pacific health care utilisation. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
18. Ministry of Health (2019). Annual Update of Key Results 2018/19: New Zealand Health Survey. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
19. Ministry of Health. (2018). ʹAla Moʹui Progress Report: Pacific Health care utilisation. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
20. Southwick, M. Kenealy, T. Ryan, D. (2012). Primary Care for Pacific People: A Pacific and Health Systems approach Report to the Health Research Council and the Ministry of Health, Pacific Perspectives, Wellington.
21. Wells, J.E. McGee, M.A. Baxter, J. Agnew, F. Kokaua, J. New Zealand Mental Health Survey Research Team. (2009). Onset and lifetime use of drugs in New Zealand: Results from Te Rau Hinengaro: The New Zealand Mental Health Survey 2003-3—4. Drug and alcohol review, 28(2), 166-174.
22. Newcombe, D. Seini, T. Tanielu, H. Nosa, V. (2019) Substance misuse stories among Pacific peoples in New Zealand. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 14:1, 68-79, DOI: 10.1080/1177083X.2018.1528991
23. Newcombe, D. Tanielu-Stowers, H. McDermott, R. Stephen, J. Nosa, V. (2016). The validation of the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) amongst Pacific people in New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Psychology. Apr 2016; v.45n.1. p.30-39
24. Indig, D. Gear, C. Wilhelm, K. (2016). Comorbid substance use disorders and mental health disorders among New Zealand prisoners. New Zealand Department of Corrections, Wellington
25. Ministry of Health. (2020). New Zealand Health Survey Annual Data Explorer [Data File]. URL:https://minhealthnz.shinyapps.io/nz-health-survey-2019-20-annual-data explorer (Accessed 28/01/2021)
26. Noller, G. (2014). Synthetic cannabinoid use in New Zealand: Assessing the harms. Report #01. The STAR Trust. Auckland: New Zealand.
27. Hu, X. Primack, B. Barnett, T. & Cook, R. (2011). College students and use of K2: an emerging drug of abuse in young persons. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2011 6:16 available at https://doi-org.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/10.1186/1747-597X-6-16
28. New Zealand Herald. (2018a). Harder than meth: The drug that's killing Kiwis at an alarming rate. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12001582 (Accessed 28/01/2021)
29. Macfarlane, V. Christie, G. (2015). Synthetic cannabinoid withdrawal: a new demand on detoxification services. Drug and alcohol review, 34(2), 147-153.
30. New Zealand Herald. (2018b). A young synthetic drug addict's final hours. Retrieved from https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/107741349/a-young-synthetic-drug-addicts-final-hours (Accessed 28/01/2021)
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Dec 20, 2022
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A perspective on Illicit drug use for Pacific people living in New Zealand . PacHealthDialog [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 20 [cited 2025 Nov. 25];21(10):693-6. Available from: https://pacifichealthdialog.nz/index.php/phd/article/view/145
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How to Cite
1.
A perspective on Illicit drug use for Pacific people living in New Zealand . PacHealthDialog [Internet]. 2022 Dec. 20 [cited 2025 Nov. 25];21(10):693-6. Available from: https://pacifichealthdialog.nz/index.php/phd/article/view/145