Nandor welcomes 'real' action on methamphetamine

Green MP Nandor Tanczos today welcomed the Methamphetamine Action Plan announced by Jim Anderton, saying it was time the Government employed real solutions for the 'P' epidemic.

Nandor, the Green spokesperson for Drug Law Reform, said he was pleased the plan looked to target the control of precursor ingredients and boosted funding for education and treatment.

"The solution lies with education, treatment and targeting the substances that can be made into methamphetamine," said Nandor.

"This is a crucial development that will be far more effective than longer jail sentences. These were the kinds of things we said needed to happen when we opposed the reclassification of methamphetamine to Class A. It's good to see the Greens and Jim Anderton thinking along the same lines.

"For far too long the focus of drug prevention has been on policing users, while those who have wanted to get off drugs have been scrambling to find places to help them.

Nandor said the planned clamp-down on precursor drugs, such as pseudoephedrine, would also be effective in limiting supply, but was concerned at moves to increase police powers of searches without warrant.

"This is unnecessary because it will almost always be possible to get a warrant to target methamphetamine labs."

Nandor said the Green Party would look forward to working with the Government to tackle the P epidemic appropriately but would not support moves to crack down on needles and syringes.

"Needles are not normally used to take amphetamines anyway so this seems pointless.

"The needle exchange programme has been vital in the campaign to control the spread of HIV and hepatitis. I'd be very concerned if Mr Anderton was to restrict the effectiveness of that programme because the impact on public health would be severe.

"By and large this is a good plan. As I've said in the past the Greens will support initiatives that will actually reduce drug abuse, so we are pleased to support this plan.

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