Teenagers on drugs are the highest admission in St Giles.

Not the kind of news we are proud of but this is the heartbreaking reality of some of our young people!!! Teenagers, as young as 14 years old, are among cases of substance abuse admit­ted at the St Giles psychiatric hospital. In a stark revelation of the reality faced at Fiji’s only psychiatric hospital, Medical Super­intendent St Giles Hospital Dr Balram Pandit said admissions were at an all-time high as the hospital surpassed a staggering 7500 admis­sions this year. This, he said, was one of the highest admis­sions recorded by the hospital. With the increase in numbers, Dr Pandit said children aged 14, 15 and 16 years, and near adult, were the age group of concerns coming in for treatment because of substance abuse. This is a matter of serious concern; young people taking illicit drugs, said Dr Pandit. “In 2013, the total admissions for that year were 4500, but this year, we have already crossed the border of 7500 and are expected to increase to 8500 admissions by the end of this year,” he said. “When it comes to substance abuse, previously with families that used to bring them in would be around five to 10 patients. “That has gone up to 20 and 30, directly with substance abuse.” The numbers surged after the COVID-19 period, he added. “What we’re noticing, those with existing mental issues, with the availability of drugs and the way it has become more accessible to them compared to before, their relapse has increased. “When they take in medications, it will not be effective.” According to statistics by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council [SAAC] from 2019 to 2022, 2355 drug and alcohol-related cases were reported in primary schools, while 5933 cases were recorded in secondary schools. These were cases of students found with illicit drugs, commonly alcohol and other drugs. Challenges He said providing the much-needed services to these patients was a challenge. “Everything is getting complex, even our workplace is getting challenging. “At times there is a lack of staff- admissions is ever increasing, there aren’t enough capable staff to cater for that,” Dr Pandit said. “Lack of resources, there aren’t enough medication to help manage their cravings associated with the drugs. “We don’t have those drugs but currently we are meeting with the PS and we are in the process to procure these drugs. So, in time, just pray that we get sufficient funds to help with this area.” He said there was also a need to have a good rehab centre, with other supporting units. He also said St Giles had a different profile compared to CWM Hospital. “Unfortunately, we are not that resourceful, we have planned to increase strength of St Giles as well and we also have to provide very close supervision there in terms of the staffing, because of the age gap and the vulnerability.” Police Acting Commissioner of Police Juki Fong Chew labelled the number of young people involved in substance as “scary, alarming and worrying.” “But what can we do collectively to minimise it? I think that is the way to go now,” Mr Chew said. “We may also say this could be one of the reasons young people are engaging in crimes, but other reasons we may say peer pressure by joining the wrong group, unemployment, early school dropout, lack of life focus and parental support from home.” To eradicate the distribution of illicit drugs in the country, the Acting Commissioner said they were continuing advocacy through community policing efforts. . Feedback: Beranadeta@fijisun.com.fj

Link to the original story: https://fijisun.com.fj/2023/11/10/teenagers-on-drugs-highest-admission-in-st-giles/