Govt Measures Continue To Put Pressure On P Trade
Rt Hon John
Key
Prime Minister
27
November 2012 Media Statement
Govt Measures
Continue To Put Pressure On P Trade
Government
agencies’ sustained crackdown on methamphetamine (‘P’)
is continuing to stifle the spread of the drug among New
Zealanders, Prime Minister John Key says.
“When I launched the Government’s plan to tackle P in 2009, this country had one of the highest proportion of P users in the world. At the time, I said this Government would confront the P problem using the full force of our arsenal.
“Three years on, I’m pleased to say the P trade has been persistently squeezed as new measures to combat the drug – as well as improved rehabilitation and support services – have been brought to bear.”
Since the Tackling Methamphetamine Action Plan was launched in October 2009, the data from the latest Indicators and Progress Report shows:
• The
prevalence of P has more than halved, from 2.2 per cent of
New Zealanders using in the drug in 2007/08 to just 0.9 per
cent in 2011/12,
• The price of P has remained
high, at around $100 per ‘point,’
• Over
500 people have been through the 60 additional dedicated
residential treatment beds for methamphetamine users since
November 2009,
• Participation in prison-based
drug treatment programmes has almost doubled, from 499
prisoners in 2009/10 to 907 in 2011/12, and over that period
of time the proportion of prisoners completing the courses
has risen from 58 per cent to 82 per cent,
• P
users are better at seeking help – since August 2010, the
MethHelp website has been visited over 25,000 times, and
over 10,000 copies of the MethHelp booklets have been
ordered.
Mr Key says the action plan’s emphasis on
greater awareness of the drug, in addition to better support
and easier access to treatment, is showing encouraging
signs.
“There has been a steady demand for information and support as people become aware of the damage P can do. The latest prevalence figures show that awareness is bearing out, as fewer people are trying the drug.
“There are still areas of concern for law enforcement agencies, and the need for vigilance is paramount,” says Mr Key.
“The report shows the price of P is remaining steady, which is good news. However, there is significant regional variation, with softening prices in parts of the upper North Island a concern.
“We also know New Zealand is being increasingly targeted by offshore criminal groups involved in P. New Zealand Police and Customs are working with their counterparts in China and other Asian countries to combat the methamphetamine trade.
“It’s vital Police, Customs and other agencies continue to use intelligence gathering and law enforcement methods to tackle the lucrative P market, where participants go to great lengths to hide their activities,” says Mr Key.
Reporting on the key indicators of the Tackling Methamphetamine Action Plan will continue on a six-monthly basis.
The latest report can be found at: http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/dpmc/publications/methamphetamine.
ENDS