What is causing the HIV epidemic in Fiji?

The HIV epidemic in Fiji is primarily driven by the widespread use of methamphetamine and the subsequent practice of sharing needles, alongside unsafe sexual practices.

How are criminal syndicates involved in Fiji's drug problem?

Criminal syndicates exploit Fiji's geography as a transshipment point for drugs from Southeast Asia and Latin America, coordinating activities with various international groups.

What is the impact of methamphetamine on Fiji's youth?

Methamphetamine use is prevalent among Fijian youth, with community workers noting users as young as 10, contributing significantly to the growing HIV infections.

Home / Health / Fiji's Drug Crisis Fuels HIV Epidemic

Fiji's Drug Crisis Fuels HIV Epidemic

4 Feb

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Summary

Methamphetamine use in Fiji is surging among young people.
Shared needles have led to an explosive HIV public health crisis.
Criminal syndicates exploit Fiji's geography for drug transshipment.

Fiji is facing a dual crisis of rampant methamphetamine use and a rapidly escalating HIV epidemic, with experts warning of an impending public health emergency. International criminal syndicates are exploiting the South Pacific island nation's strategic location as a transshipment point for drugs, primarily methamphetamines, originating from Southeast Asia and Latin America and destined for markets in Australia, New Zealand, and North America.

The proliferation of methamphetamine within Fiji has led to devastating societal impacts, with community workers reporting users as young as 10. Compounding this issue is the common practice of injecting the drug, leading to widespread needle-sharing. This behavior, coupled with a lack of awareness or disregard for safe sex practices, has ignited a public health crisis, resulting in one of the world's fastest-growing rates of HIV infection.

In 2024 alone, Fiji recorded over 1,583 new HIV infections, a historic high and a 500 percent increase from 2018. Health officials anticipate this number to double by the end of the year. The majority of new cases are among young people aged 15 to 34, with a growing number of infants infected by their mothers. Experts believe this trend is mirrored across other isolated Pacific islands like Tonga, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands, which show early signs similar to Fiji's situation in 2019.