NCJ Number
202973
Date Published
May 2003
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This document discusses a plan to reduce the prevalence, use, and harm associated with methamphetamine use in New Zealand.
Abstract
Methamphetamine is currently one of this country’s significant illicit drug issues. Actions to deal with this problem have been carried out by individual departments and nongovernment organizations with some cooperation. This plan will initiate a “whole of government" approach. Changes to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 will allow increased powers for police and customs in relation to precursor supply control, particularly powers for customs to seize unlicensed imports of precursors and extend warrantless search and seizure powers to police for precursor substances. Improved drug monitoring and surveillance systems are planned, including more specific police offense codes for methamphetamine offenses, the establishment of a comprehensive illicit drug monitoring system, and exploring the potential to add sites to the Drug Use Monitoring Australia program of drug testing people detained in police cells. Improved resourcing of police and customs drug enforcement services will provide greater intelligence and investigative capacity to respond to the current and future methamphetamine situation. Community Action Programs will be set up to target communities with methamphetamine problems, focusing on community ownership and solutions with support from Public Health and public health providers. Community Action Programs will also focus on building resilience among producer, supplier, user communities, and encourage self-prohibition on methamphetamine. Public health and education drug resources will also provide improved information on methamphetamine. A treatment protocol will be developed, with improved resourcing of treatment services to allow for a greater level of training. The focus will be on behavioral change treatment approaches because they have been proven to be a successful form of methamphetamine dependence treatment. There will be improved information gathering on methamphetamine, including ways of dealing with clandestine laboratories and their effects. Further research will be conducted into the morbidity and mortality rates associated with methamphetamine use. Regular meetings/symposiums will be organized to bring treatment, research and policy fields, drug educators, and intervention workers together on aspects of drug use. 2 figures, 5 tables, 41 references, appendix