DRUG ABUSE CASES SOAR AT HOSPITAL

THE first case of a drug related mentally affected case admitted and
treated at the Port Moresby General Hospital was in 1987.

According to medical records from the hospital, this was a "cannabis
(marijuana) induced psychosis".

"Since then the number cases admitted to the mental ward in relation to
drug use is frightening," Dr Uma Ambi Siva, principle advisor and
consultant psychiatrist to the Mental Health Services, said.

"Four to five out of every 10 cases admitted every month are related to the
abuse of drugs."

She said every second mental case is related to the use of either marijuana
or alcohol or even both at the same time.

In a paper on "Substance Abuse", it was revealed that currently, psychosis
related to cannabis abuse is increasing in numbers.

Twenty per cent of the admissions to the Port Moresby General Hospital are
associated with cannabis abuse.

In a study conducted on patients admitted to the Port Moresby General
Hospital in regards to substance abuse psychosis, it was concluded that: 80
per cent were single, 75 per cent were unemployed, and 20 per cent were
students.

In all the cases, the patients were all below the age of 30 and all of them
were aware of the dangers of cannabis (marijuana).

Sixty per cent used drugs daily and 40 per cent weekly, 90 per cent were
introduced to drugs at school, 95 per cent agreed that drugs were good to
use, 80 per cent felt that they wanted to stop taking drugs after admission
to hospital and their self-realisation.

"There are cases where children as young as six are drinking alcohol and
smoking marijuana at the same time," Dr Ambi said.

The most common drugs used in PNG are: Alcohol, Cannabis, Diazepam,
Methylated Spirit, and other locally brewed substances.

Fortunately the abuse of hard drugs is not yet a major problem in PNG,
despite the proximity of PNG to Australia and Indonesia though there have
been sporadic cases of heroin and cocaine use.

Dr Ambi said drug abuse is not only a psychological problem but has
physical and social related problems as well.

As early as 1997, there was an outcry for the government to prioritise the
fight against drugs.

An article in The National newspaper titled "Priority urged for drugs
fight" said: "At this point, the government has been accused of neglecting
the growing drug abuse in the country. Illicit drugs are now one of the top
social problems we face. Thousands of youth are being affected and what is
worst, much of our violent crime is linked to drugs."

In that same year, a report from the Police Department of PNG confirmed
that 40 per cent of crimes committed in the National Capital District were
associated with marijuana alone.

In 1994, a paper presented on "Alcohol and Motor Vehicle Accident in NCD"
demonstrated that there is a strong association between alcohol consumption
and driving accidents.

Alcohol was directly linked to 50 per cent of all accidents.

Dr Ambi said these problems are not only restricted to Port Moresby but are
countrywide and had become major concerns.

"The same drug abuse related mental disorders are becoming a concern in all
other provinces of the country," she said.

Dr Ambi said young people especially are prone to becoming victims of drug
abuse.

She attributed peer group pressure, availability of drugs, bad parenting,
and the education system as contributing factors towards the growing drug
problem in the country.

She said children growing up with depressed parents will themselves develop
with negative feelings later in life. And coupled with a school system that
drops out many young people, she said, a group of people is created who
believe they have no use in society.

Dr Ambi said the next step is to escape from the problems of life, and
drugs provide that temporary escape.

She said the availability of drugs, especially marijuana and alcohol,
targets this unfortunate group.

"It is a time bomb. If no good measures are taken it will get out of hand,"
Dr Ambi warned.

She added drug education and awareness is needed in the country to stop the
problem.