Determinants of alcohol consumption and marijuana use among young adults in the Republic of Palau

Background This study aimed to describe the status of alcohol consumption and drug use among young adults as well as their determinants. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of 356 young adults (aged 18 to 24 years) living in Palau in 2013. The prevalence of self-reported alcohol and marijuana usage were compared within and between sexes, age groups, ethnicities, and education levels. Results The proportion of current drinking was higher in people aged 21–24 than in those aged 18–20 (73.2% vs. 60.9%, p = 0.09 in men and 48.3% vs. 30.0%, p = 0.02 in women), while that of marijuana use did not differ between the age groups. The proportions of current drinking and marijuana use were higher in Palauan than in other ethnicities (current drinking: 70.6% vs. 40.6%, p = 0.005 in men and 38.8% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.04 in women; lifetime marijuana use: 80.0% vs. 52.9%, p = 0.02 in men and 56.1% vs. 30.6%, p = 0.09 in women). The proportion of frequent (3 times or more) marijuana users was higher for the lower educated than for the higher educated (62.5% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.001 in men and 33.9% vs. 24.4%, p = 0.12 in women). Conclusions Sex, age, ethnicity, and education were significant determinants of alcohol and marijuana use.

Muntingia calabura (Jamaica cherry).

M. calabura is a fast growing tree of disturbed lowland neotropical forests that has been introduced as an ornamental and fruit tree in many Old World countries. It is now widespread and naturalized in Southeast Asia, Australia, and in islands of the Pacific Ocean, in part due to its ability to disperse by bats and birds. It is often regarded as an environmental weed, but has not yet become a severe widespread problem (Werren, 2001; Randall, 2012). Listed as invasive in Puerto Rico (Haysom and Murphy, 2003; Rojas-Sandoval and Acevedo-Rodríguez, 2015), Singapore (Nghiem et al., 2015), Papua New Guinea (Orapa, 2006), Republic of Palau (Space et al., 2009), Nauru (Meyer, 2000) and the Federated States of Micronesia (Haysom and Murphy, 2003). Listed as potentially invasive in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (Meyer, 2000).

The politics of development in Palau

Purpose The Republic of Palau in the Micronesian region of the Pacific illuminates the complexities of how the political geography of development is shaped through diplomacy, defense and migration policy. The Compact of Free Association (COFA) between Palau and the US has been a topic of debate and for some resistance. Design/methodology/approach Through discursive analysis of grey literature and post-development and political geography frameworks, this paper analyzes the way in which development, through unconventional pathways, is used to exert power by Palau’s largest donor, the US. Findings The donor–recipient, government-to-government framework fails to explore the ways in development is used as power through military operations, zonal capitalism, redefined citizenship and tourism as new aid modalities. These graduated sovereignties in Palau show that political geography is taking shape through new pathways of development, which has resulted in more actors, institutions and discourses. Originality/value With limited research on the region of Micronesia and particularly the politics of development, this paper contributes important analysis to the lead up to the COFA renewal negotiations between the US and Palau in 2024.