The Salvation Army Addiction Services Team Leader, Sailivao Aukusitino Senio believes that aside from communities, families and churches stepping up to assist with the impact of drugs on youths, the Government needs to review the law.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, Sailivao said that the increase in meth-related cases is alarming and believes that something should be done about it by the Government.

"The government should revisit the legislation and how to enforce the law for example beer should only be sold to people 21 years and above but I'm seeing younger people buying it. There is no enforcement of the law," he said.

"It is a huge concern because what happened was, I think it is not just marijuana that's affecting them but young people are using meth.

"So we're very concerned because of the impact of this on the youths and teenagers and mind you, there will be circumstances that follow like dealing with the law and getting charged so it's a huge impact.

"We all should be worried starting from parents. The churches, village councils and the whole community should all be concerned and do something to resolve this.

"So far there are close to 1,900 people being brought to the Salvation Army but the majority of that are being brought for alcohol addiction. I can also say that a good portion are being brought for drugs or narcotics like meth and marijuana.

"We have seen kids younger than 19 years but we do bring them in sometimes because where else are they going to go? These guys are brought in for possession of narcotics while some are brought in for their behaviour, threatening words, stoning, and mainly alcohol."

The church, which runs Samoa’s drug and alcohol rehabilitation service, has said that they have seen it become a problem in neighbouring nations and there are signs of it growing in Samoa. Church staff are concerned that if no immediate action is taken, it could spell disaster for the country. 

Two months ago, the Salvation Army began its behavioural therapy for methamphetamine (meth) addiction which is becoming a growing problem in Samoa.

Meanwhile, the recent raid bust in Malifa caught two juvenile with one being 14-years-old only.