[Liesl]

Hi there

I just wanted to know if drugs is as big a problem in NZ as in SA. We are hoping to emmigrate to NZ by the end of this year and I have 2 boys. Drugs and crime are my two main reasons for wanting to leave SA.

Thanks for the response.
Liesl.

[james the mechanic]

Bump,
I’m afraid I don’t know Liesl; I doubt it though.
However someone must know, surly?
She’s thanking you in advance for your response guys!

[Lupin]

Tricky one.

There is a huge problem with a drug called 'P'.

[phatsharpie]

Here are some links to statistics I've found:

http://www.nzhis.govt.nz/publications/drugs.html

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_amp_use-lifestyle-amphetamine-use (3rd in OECD countries - but I can't find the link to where this statistic actually came from)

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/lif_can_use-lifestyle-cannabis-use (1st in OECD countries - but I can't find the link to where this statistic actually came from)

http://www.stats.govt.nz/analytical-reports/crime-in-nz/drug-antisocial-offences.htm

Interesting quote from the last link:

Drug-related offences receive media attention and there has been concern that recreational use of non-cannabis drugs is on the increase. Figure 9 shows that the number of offences relating to the procurement/possession of drugs other than cannabis more than doubled between 1994 and 2000. Miscellaneous offences relating to non-cannabis drugs also show a large increase (50 percent). These miscellaneous offences include permitting use of premises for drug offences and possessing needles for drug use.

However, non-cannabis offences still constitute only a small proportion of all drug offences. In 1994, 6 percent of all drug offences were not cannabis related. This increased to 8 percent in 2000. Also, the non-cannabis drug offence rate remained low at less than 1 per 1,000 population between 1994 and 2000. Any increase in non-cannabis drug offences has the potential to increase other types of offence, for example, increased use of drugs that affect behaviour can lead to an increase in anti-social offences.


I have to admit I am surprised by these statistics. The nationmaster.com statistics are especially eye opening.

Brian

[kanatakiwi]

However, non-cannabis offences still constitute only a small proportion of all drug offences. In 1994, 6 percent of all drug offences were not cannabis related. This increased to 8 percent in 2000. Also, the non-cannabis drug offence rate remained low at less than 1 per 1,000 population between 1994 and 2000. Any increase in non-cannabis drug offences has the potential to increase other types of offence, for example, increased use of drugs that affect behaviour can lead to an increase in anti-social offences

I'd say that information is out of date. Crystal meth (the drug Lupin mentioned, also known as P) is a huge problem here and use has increased dramatically in the last few years, so was not really large on the radar in the year 2000, when those statistics were tallied. Police continue to find more and more "P labs" and the consequences of using this drug are extreme violence, aggression and paranoia, along with a feeling of being bulletproof, and a complete lack of judgemental ability. A treacherous combination which is linked to a high percentage of the serious crime in NZ.

[thepiesleys]

The quote below was an alert e-mail sent from management to all staff at the school i teach at in south Auckland this week, it came with a photograpgh that won't let me copy and paste it i'm afraid, but it is pink sugar like crystals
does anyone remember space dust? that sweet that popped in your mouth - well it looks like that only the chrstyals are bigger. Just how scary is this ??? !!!

Sue





"Please read and digest. This could be one of our children, grandchildren or friends.

New form of methamphetamine (Strawberry meth or Strawberry quick)
There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that all
need to be aware of.

There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry
poprocks.


It smells like strawberry also and it is being handed out to kids in
school yards.

I'm sure it will make its way around the country if it hasn't already.

Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off
to the E.R. in dire condition.

Please instruct your children to not accept candy that looks like this
even from a friend and to take any that they may have to a teacher,
principal, etc.

Please pass this around it could save some family a lot of heartache!."

[ellenmelon]

The quote below was an alert e-mail sent from management to all staff at the school i teach at in south Auckland this week, it came with a photograpgh that won't let me copy and paste it i'm afraid, but it is pink sugar like crystals
does anyone remember space dust? that sweet that popped in your mouth - well it looks like that only the chrstyals are bigger. Just how scary is this ??? !!!

Sue





"Please read and digest. This could be one of our children, grandchildren or friends.

New form of methamphetamine (Strawberry meth or Strawberry quick)
There is a very scary thing going on in the schools right now that all
need to be aware of.

There is a type of crystal meth going around that looks like strawberry
poprocks.


It smells like strawberry also and it is being handed out to kids in
school yards.

I'm sure it will make its way around the country if it hasn't already.

Kids are ingesting this thinking that it is candy and being rushed off
to the E.R. in dire condition.

Please instruct your children to not accept candy that looks like this
even from a friend and to take any that they may have to a teacher,
principal, etc.

Please pass this around it could save some family a lot of heartache!."


im dubious about these emails, because there has been an urban myth going round that this has happened (ie varying forms of the email you were forwarded are making the rounds..when should you ever believe a forwarded email chain letter? they all seem to originate in the states). its true that they can make pink p..but as far as i read its still unsubstantiated. pure meth has a very strong taste which is hard to mask, so even if they did make it here, i really cant imagine kids wanted to eat it when it had such a strong and foul aftertaste.

edited to add http://stuff.co.nz/4134805a11.html

[Lupin]

I would have thought that was fairly obviously a hoax, I'm surprised your management forwarded it on :confused:

[thepiesleys]

hi ellen

i for one will not be taking any risks at all with this one be it true or not i have shown it to my own sons, my 9 year old would def. try something that smelled of strawberries, even if he spat it out quickly, children are.. well.. children.. naive, trusting, and sweet toothed.

Sue

[phatsharpie]

Apparently it's partially true (true color may have been added, but unlikely flavor would have been added):
http://www.snopes.com/horrors/drugs/candymeth.asp

Brian

[thepiesleys]

oh and just getting back to the original subject of drugs in NZ i have had 3 students in the past 9 months pass out in my class after 1 sniffing spray cans and 2 of them smoking dope that had been cut with some other substance - the school nurse ferried them to the hospita and later home, they were allowed back in school aster 3 days.

My eldest son (14) has been offered dope in and out of school on a regular basis here in NZ and says it is quite the done thing - as it was when i was a teen but def. not at 14 and def not in schooll!!
sue

[Lupin]

I've just had a quick internet trawl too and it looks plausable that some form of candy coasting exists and I note you work in a school in south Auckland ... anything is possible I guess.

Strange world.

[Lupin]

oh and just getting back to the original subject of drugs in NZ i have had 3 students in the past 9 months pass out in my class after 1 sniffing spray cans and 2 of them smoking dope that had been cut with some other substance - the school nurse ferried them to the hospita and later home, they were allowed back in school aster 3 days.

Grim :(

[willsken]

I know there are drugs here, I hear the kids talking in school but to put it into perspective there were huge problems in a school I worked at in the UK. That school had to have a fence erected all around it to keep the dealers out at lunch time. Drugs I'm afraid are everywhere, NZ included.

Also OP mentioned the crime here in comparison. I read an article earlier today which was talking about the crime problem in SA and I can quite safely say, no, NZ is nowhere near as unsafe as SA. I spent 5 years in SA as a child, felt saddened by what I read.

If anyone wants a read.

http://archive.salon.com/news/feature/2000/03/28/south_africa/index.html

[Super_BQ]

Don't forget the popularity of those "Party Pills". Still legal in NZ as you can buy them direct from a store specialist in town. (at least here in Christchurch they have big bright neon lights).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzylpiperazine

Though illegal in the US, it's interesting to see that it's legal to buy and consume in NZ.

A dangerous drug? You tell me.

[phatsharpie]

Law to ban "party pills" is coming:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4111259a10.html

Brian