In 2005, the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD) commissioned the Centre for International Health  to conduct a 'Situational analysis of illicit drug issues and responses in Asia and the Pacific'.

The review found that there are limited data available to assist in understanding illicit drug use and the harms associated with its use in the Pacific. In response to initial findings and recommendations of this report, the Pacific Drug and Alcohol Research Network (PDARN) was formed, with the Centre for International Health acting as the secretariat.

Meetings held in Melbourne in 2005 and Fiji in 2006 supported by the Australian Research Council, Australian National Council on Drugs, and AusAID brought together representatives from ministries of health, law enforcement agencies, community based organisations, regional funding bodies, research and education institutions to further explore these issues in the context of the Pacific.

The social, economic, health and political impact on development of both licit and illicit drug use (including alcohol) are well documented, as are the links with poverty and social deprivation. Deliberations among the delegates resulted in the articulation of coherent and achievable strategies for the network to promote relevant and important applied research projects. The group also reaffirmed the need to encourage multi-sectoral and inter-disciplinary research collaborations, and ultimately (through applied research) improve the understanding of drug and alcohol use in the Pacific and construct effective and targeted responses at the level of both policy and practice. The members of the network are imbued with both a sense of urgency to develop a greater depth of understanding of the impact of drug and alcohol use in the region, and a commitment to pursue the aims of the network:

  • Create opportunities for inter-disciplinary and multi-method social science research in the Pasifika on licit and illicit drug and alcohol use and to broaden the constituency of the PDARN.
  • Develop research capacity in the Pasifika and create academic, civil society and professional research collaboration.
  • Create sustainable research partnerships between government agencies, community bodies and others interested in topics related to licit and illicit drug and alcohol use issues.
  • Develop substantive research proposals and seek appropriate funding.
  • Develop a research evidence base to inform policy and practice in the Pasifika.
  • Use a range of web-based and other technologies to expand and explore the potential of PDARN.

Click to visit the PDARN website: pdarn.org/