THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY (DRUG & ALCOHOL awareness)

Drugs can be good, bad and ugly. We sometimes need the good drugs to help fight illness or ease our physical and emotional pain. They are made to a standard that is monitored and we know what we are getting. They result from painstaking development over many years. The labelling is on the packet and they are sold over the counter as reputable brands. Sometimes they need a doctor’s prescription and are issued by a pharmacist.

They are the good drugs ... but this booklet is more concerned with the bad and the ugly drugs. These drugs are addictive, have all sorts of unknown ingredients, and can be dangerous – even fatal.

They are associated with crime. Some drug-related offences are now being viewed as a significant social threat to the country. These activities are having an unprecedented effect on health, jobs, productivity and community cohesion in New Zealand.

Cannabis remains the third-most used drug in New Zealand after alcohol and tobacco. Cannabis-related offences are down from what they were, but non-cannabis drug crimes, which include amphetamine-type substances, are up.

The movement from cannabis to synthetics began in the late 90s. In 2000 the Police saw significant changes as methamphetamines, Ecstasy and GHB (Gammahydroxybutyrate, also known as Fantasy or the date rape drug) became widely available.

These “party” drugs can be made at home, the ingredients are readily available and they are very addictive. The chemicals are usually made in China and groups known as Triads, in co-operation with New Zealand gangs, are often the importers. New Zealand is a prime target in the international drugs trade because the market is so lucrative. The gangs control the trade to ensure that competition is minimal and prices are kept high.

Survey shows serious abuse

A survey called The Socio-Economic Impact of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) in New Zealand was conducted in 2001 for the Police by the Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Massey University, in Auckland. The results were issued in 2004. ATS’s are illicit synthetic drug types that include methamphetamine, Ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine (known as Ice).

The research showed that ATS’s were now serious drugs of abuse in New Zealand. In 2001 one in 10 New Zealanders aged 18–29, or about 100,000 people, had used an ATS drug in the last year. About one-third of these were frequent users (defined as having used six times or more in the previous year). The illegal trade in ATS drugs in New Zealand is of the equivalent dollar value – $168.3 million – as the illicit trade in cannabis. It might have effectively doubled the dollar value of the illegal trade in drugs in New Zealand in less than 10 years.

The evidence suggests we are witnessing a drugs epidemic.

The survey reveals that ATS users were mainly male and aged 18–29; the heaviest among them aged 20–24. Users mostly were in full-time work, were in professional occupations, earned good money and were well educated. Many, including frequent users, were European. Users mainly were urban-dwellers, in the upper half of the North Island and in Auckland.

Forty percent of frequent users of methamphetamine reported existing mental health problems, including tendencies to self-harm. About two-thirds of users said methamphetamine increased their psychological problems such as anxiety, mood swings, short temper, paranoia and depression, and suicidal thoughts (21 percent) and attempts (13 percent).

Ninety-three percent of the frequent methamphetamine users interviewed believed P to be “more harmful” or “much more harmful” than cannabis.

About half of frequent users interviewed reported harm in “friendship and social life” (55 percent), “health” (55 percent), and “energy and vitality” (53 percent). Other “harms” that frequent users most often rated as “very serious” or “extremely serious” were to “work and work opportunities”, “outlook on life”, and “friendship and social life”.

Frequent P users were often engaged in other illegal activities such as drug dealing and making. One-third of users interviewed had sold P and about one in five had made it or exchanged it for stolen property.

About half of amphetamine buyers had contacted their drug dealers by mobile phone or texting; nearly two-thirds of cannabis buyers visited a house or flat. All the amphetamine sellers reported selling only to “close friends and family members”, whereas cannabis sellers sold at least “some” of their cannabis to “casual acquaintances” and “complete strangers”.

ATS users commonly combined their drug-taking with high-potency cannabis, LSD, magic mushrooms, cocaine, GHB, Ketamine, Rush and tranquillisers

Broader market noticed

Since that survey in 2001 the Police have noticed that P has been “marketed” away from dance partygoers and motorcycle gangs to broader society, particularly poorer groups, teenagers and traditional cannabis users. As well, some dealers lace cannabis with P to increase the attractiveness.

New Zealand has the highest drug prices in the world. A “tinny” of cannabis in New Zealand, which is well-suited to growing the plant, costs $20 – in other countries the same quantity might cost 50c.

Another survey of methamphetamine use in New Zealand was undertaken in November and December of 2003. Information came from drug treatment workers, Police and Customs drug enforcement officers.

Some key trends emerged:

• Methamphetamine was readily available.

• A greater cross-section of society is now using P.

• Methamphetamine sales are being made from cannabis “tinny” houses.

• P is being marketed to poorer groups of people.

• Methamphetamine users have increased drug dealing.

• Violence and property crime is associated with P use.

• More P users are coming to the attention of the Police and drug treatment.

• Smoking methamphetamine is becoming more popular, as opposed to the previous tradition of snorting.

• P is now being injected.

• The prevalence of pure crystal forms of methamphetamine as opposed to cut powder.