Cocaine and Methamphetamine (also known as Ice) are something new you don’t want to try.

This was the advice of Lolohea Umu who started injecting herself with cocaine and ice at the age of 17.

Ms Umu started using drugs when she moved to Australia with her family.

“I choose the wrong friends and that was how I started. I started with drinking and smoking and as time went by I started injecting myself with cocaine and ice,” Ms Umu said.

“Once I started I couldn’t stop and almost died a few times. When I wake up in the morning I didn’t even brush my teeth because I just wanted to inject myself.

“I had a good family and friends and started to lose them because of my addiction.

“It was like I couldn’t live without it. When I didn’t take it I had cramps in my joints so taking it was my only option.

“Injecting myself with cocaine and ice was something I thought was cool back then.

“When I was young I thought it was cool to try out everything new, but what I didn’t know was that all it took was that one try to get me addicted.

“I didn’t finish school because of these drugs. I am blessed that I was able to get off these drugs.

“There came a time in my life I knew I had to do something. I have lost almost all my friends due to these drugs.

“Once I was high at the age of 23 and I said ‘God I am losing my friends and my family. I want you to take me out of here because if you don’t then I will just die here’.

“My family was supportive of me and they sent me to Fiji. In Fiji there was no cocaine and ice at the time. I had so much cocaine and ice in my system that I couldn’t take it.

“I drank so that I can feel better. I felt weak, but I kept reminding myself that it was for my own good. I finally left it with the power of God.

“I don’t regret making the choice to come back to Fiji and I thank God for giving me another opportunity in life,” Ms Umu said.

She said everyone needed to work together to combat cocaine and Ice in Fiji.

Edited by Jonathan Bryce

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