New Zealand National Drug Policy Favourable Report

25 February 2000

New Zealand National Drug Policy Receives Favourable Report

THE International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) this week commended New Zealand on measures employed to tackle the abuse of illicit drugs.

"This is a vote of confidence for the Ministry of Health and all the other agencies in New Zealand who work tirelessly to discourage the abuse of drugs and deal with the consequences of that abuse," said National Drug Policy project leader Matthew Allen.

The INCB Annual Report released this week, singles New Zealand out for commendation on a number of developments. In particular, it recognised the work programmes developed for the first stage of the implementation of the National Drug Policy and the export and import controls employed by the Ministry of Health.

"The New Zealand National Drug Policy works towards a goal of minimising the harm caused by illicit drug use to both individuals and the community.

"The development and implementation of the National Drug Policy means that New Zealand is in a strong position internationally and domestically to address drug problems," said Mr Allen.

New Zealand's ratification and full compliance with all three United Nations drug control conventions was also recognised.

The policy's action plan includes a progressive ban on the importation and supply of drug paraphernalia, continual reviewing and updating drug education programmes in schools, producing guidelines on effective Drug Education and identifying gaps and overlaps in drug and alcohol treatment services. Full details of all the initiatives in the National Drug Policy work plan can be found on the Ministry of Health web site ( www.moh.govt.nz).

The INCB is an independent and quasi-judicial control organ for the implementation of the United Nations drug control conventions. It reports annually on the state of the world drug abuse problem analysing each country's performance over the last year with respect to the manufacture, traffic, and abuse of illicit drugs.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Ministry of Health, Media Advisor Rebecca Wilson ph: 04-496-2067, pager: 025-495-989 Internet address: www.moh.govt.nz/media.html

New Zealand Customs Service, National Manager Investigations Matt Roseingrave ph: 025 929 014

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