Transcript
The director of Tonga's Women and Children Crisis Centre says her office has seen a leap in meth-related suicides and numerous domestic violence cases involving users have occurred. 'Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki says children are also becoming addicted to the drug referred to as 'ice.'
"We know, first-hand, on the ground, through cases that come to the centre, that this is a growing issue and it is actually growing quite rapidly. Just in this last six months, the Crisis Centre has had to deal with three cases where the parents have referred their young children to the crisis centre because they are addicts."
Ms Guttenbeil-Likiliki has made a passionate appeal for the country's leaders to confront the issue.
"One of the biggest voices in Tonga are the church leaders and I would even extend that to say the biggest voice would be the king and the royal family. I would humbly request that the royal family, the king, members of parliament, the heads of our church, get together and say - this is enough, it's starting to destroy our nation."
The Free Wesleyan Church is the largest denomination in Tonga. Its president, the Reverend Dr Finau 'Ahio, says the church realises drug-use has become a national problem and everyone is working on it. He says the church's annual camps this month are hoping to reach up to 10,000 youth which he says will prioritise the issue.
"This camp is purposely for young people and for us, a church, to deal with the problem of drugs and alcohol. We have a reach-out programme for young people. This camp is going to be held in every village church."
Dr 'Ahio says his church is counselling drug users discreetly in an effort to slowly reintegrate them into a healthy community. A local youth advocate says young people are being educated around the dangers of meth. Elizabeth Kite is head of Tonga Youth Leaders, and a member of the Commonwealth Youth Council. She says some groups have gone into the villages and met with drug dealers, consumers and other members of the community to discuss the matter.
"A lot of young people are actually going into drugs without really realising what ice specifically does, what the consequences are. That's why you are seeing a lot of youth leaders going out into communities and schools and groups and churches, to just talanoa, just have a chat."
Ms Kite says high levels of unemployment and having nothing to do are often cited as reasons. But she says there are things youth can get involved in.
"There is one thing that Tonga also has and this is with agriculture specifically. Every young Tongan has access to land and so utilising something like that is such a privilege. There have been two agricultural project promoting more youth involvement and I think that's one way to help young people realise that there is always something to do in Tonga. You don't have to turn to drugs."
Ms Kite also says Tongans need to return to traditional, Christian values. However she says the issue of meth shouldn't define the country.
"We have many things that are very positive of our country that do define us. We have many issues as well and ice is one of those issues but ice does not define us and it does not define our future either. We have some positive work on the ground at the moment trying to address this issue, as well as others, to help combat and overcome these problems."
The Police Minister Mateni Tapueluelu did not return calls on the issue.
