Mass Media V
Philp, Matt. Dancing in the dark. New Zealand Listener, 1 Apr 2000; 26-27.
Jamie Langridge died at an Auckland dance party, the second person to die from using ecstasy in New Zealand. Rumours abound that party-goers had water confiscated before they could enter the venue, though water was available, and St John's Ambulance staff were present. Langridge apparently took a combination of ecstasy, methamphetamine and alcohol, though this is not confirmed. Police photographed all party-goers after the death, and Pavement editor Bernard McDonald claimed they are 'building a dossier' of potential drug users and dealers. Police denied this.
Philp says that the deaths of Langridge and Ngaire O'Neill are being used to demonise ecstasy, when going fishing is more dangerous. The Ministry of Health has published harm reduction material, but it may not be reaching the right audience.
Quaintance, Lauren. 1999. The agony over ecstasy. North and South, (Jun): 52-58.
Ecstasy use is rising in New Zealand, and users are often middle-class, with good jobs. Dealers are demonised, but they are often "our children". Other drugs are worse.
The history and effects of ecstasy, including examples of overdoses, are described. Centrepoint leader Bert Potter apparently imported ecstasy in 1989. The drug is not, contrary to myth, often 'cut' with hazardous substances. Prime Minister Shipley says it is "dangerous, not fun", and plans to reclassify it as Class A. Researcher Richard Laverty can't understand why people think it is so dangerous - there are many claims of damage, but evidence is inconclusive. Karl Jensen, an international expert who has worked in New Zealand, agrees.
Police have few powers to deal with ecstasy - fewer than with cannabis, due to a legal anomaly. Thus the need to reclassify. But police wanted all amphetamine derivatives reclassified - the government only moved on ecstasy, a shock to the police, according to Paul Berry. Laverty agrees that methamphetamine is far worse. Michael Webb, ex-Ministry of Health, is against re-classification, and argues that the focus on ecstasy is a moral panic, occurring primarily because the victims, such as Ngaire O'Neill, are 'nice', middle-class people - not 'druggies' hooked on opiates or sniffing glue. Sally Jackman of FADE argues that it is hypocritical to lower the drinking age and at the same time crack down on ecstasy. Gillian Durham, Director of Public Health, defends this approach.
Revington, Mark. 2004. Heavy traffic. New Zealand Listener, 25 September 2004, 26-29.
Customs and Police are "facing a dramatic increase in the flow of illegal drugs across borders". Increasingly, drugs are being imported into New Zealand for the New Zealand market, rather than suppliers using New Zealand as a staging-post to smuggle drugs into other countries.
Drugs can be bought cheaply overseas, and sold for a high profit in New Zealand. Ecstasy is one example, and the precursor chemicals used to make methamphetamine are another. Short-stay Asian students are becoming involved in smuggling precursor chemicals into the country.
Drug syndicates and smugglers are incredibly sophisticated. Examples of smuggling, such as hiding methamphetamine in the fluid inside lava lamps, are given. Customs doesn't know how big the market is, or what percentage of drugs they are seizing. They do think that they are getting better at seizing drugs, based on comparing how much the seize with surveys of drug usage.
Ross, Tara. 2003. Speed Thrill. The Press, 26 September 2003, 6.
Psychiatrist Roger Morgan describes the mental health risks posed by P. Morgan says that one in 16 users will develop a psychotic illness from only one use of the drug.
Morgan is clearly an expert, but this claim seems odd, unless he has been misquoted - if one in 16 P users do develop psychiatric problems, then the streets would be full of these people. Possibly Morgan was including temporary mental health problems in this figure - the article is unclear.
The article reports the United Nations report into amphetamine-type substances, noting that the report says the risk of such substances is under-rated. The article does not mention the report's claim that New Zealand has one of the highest rates of methamphetamine abuse in the world.
The article continues with a summary of high-profile criminal cases that have been linked to P, and provides a few statistics, such as the history of methamphetamine (prescribed medically in the 1950s, though in smaller doses than taken recreationally today), and provides facts about the use of amphetamine-like drugs worldwide.
Saunders, Anna. 2005. Free party pills given out at nightclubs. The Dominion Post, 25 May 2005.
[Accessed 28 May 2005, link no longer valid 8 February 2006].
Various dance party promoters have been giving away social tonics to attendees at their events. Event manager Darcy Gladwin claims he has no problem with this and points out that the pills are not illegal. He says giving away the pills is comparable to providing a complementary drink on arrival. Bodega owner Fraser McInnes said he hadn't realised the pills were being given away, and says his bar does not sell them, as customers who take them spend less on drinks. Ross Bell of the Drug Foundation said that giving pills away in a licensed environment was irresponsible, and welcomed proposed law changes that would make giving them away illegal.
Schmidt, Veronica. 2001. The energy and the ecstasy. Metro (Jan): 76-81.
Discusses the drug culture in Auckland. Users see ecstasy as better than any other experience in their lives. They compare the health risks favourably with those of alcohol, though critics note one beer won't kill you.
Ecstasy is expensive, so users are young and well-off. It's an urban drug, because it is best experienced in a crowd, says policeman Colin McMurtie. Most users are not criminals, but many are second or third tier drug dealers, selling to their friends. They don't see this as dealing, and don't feel threatened by the law or by health risks.
An older user claims the scene has changed, that it used to be more about the music, and now is populated by people who are just there for the drugs. The earlier scene was exclusively a rich crowd, though, the article adds.
Sinclair, Robyn. 1997. Psychological impact of ecstasy main problem. NZ Doctor, 20 August 1997.
Reviews the risks of ecstasy, concentrating on the mental effects.
Correctly notes issues such as the onset time and duration of effects, how the drug works (stimulation of central nervous system and production of serotonin), and possible health issues.
The suggestion that high doses of ecstasy may lead to "violent irrational behaviour" is highly debatable. Anyone familiar with ecstasy would agree that it reduces incidences of violence - fights are basically unknown at events where those present are using ecstasy.
Suggestions that user mood and the situation the drug is taken in (often known as 'set and setting'), as well as strength and purity, and previous experience with the drug, moderate the way an individual user reacts to the drug are perceptive and often under-reported.
A GP and a drug counsellor explain that GPs are unlikely to see patients with full-blown addictions to ecstasy, though psychological dependence is possible and patients may present with depression which may be exacerbated by this. Patients are more likely to present with psychological than physical problems from the use of ecstasy.
This conclusion seems valid and is probably under-reported in the mainstream media, who tend to focus on the more dramatic, but much rarer, cases of death or physical illness.
Sinclair, Robyn. 1998. Not much fun on ecstasy. NZ Doctor, 10 June 1998.
Anti-drug lobby group FADE claims that the costs of taking ecstasy are too high, with "the main risk being the tablets....may not be ecstasy". FADE quote a study showing that only a minority of pills sold as ecstasy contained pure ecstasy, but do not state if this was a New Zealand study. Some pills contained ketamine, which the article incorrectly calls a horse tranquiliser.
The article is factual and to the point, noting that dangers of ecstasy include overheating and mental health problems "in the days following ecstasy use" (the article doesn't mention death through water intoxication, which is actually more relevant to the New Zealand context as at least 2 of the 3 people who have died from taking ecstasy died from water intoxication.) The article is conservative in its claims, stating that many long term users suffer short-term problems, rather than implying that all users do, or that these problems are long lasting - claims for which there is still insufficient evidence.
South, Kristian. 2002. Battle rages over speed and power. Truth, 27 December 2002, 5.
Reports that a gang war is simmering in Auckland, as Black Power president Mark Pittman takes an anti-methamphetamine stance and demands that his members stay away from the drug: "They have been told not to sell P on the streets and to only sell pot", says a source. Pittman even appeared on TV discussing the perils of methamphetamine. However another Black Power chapter is unhappy with his actions, saying he cannot tell other presidents what to do. The chapter responded to his call with threats of violence, but Pittman said he "wanted no war and that his cause was a just one".
Given the source, it is hard to know how true this article is, though it is interesting that Pittman is named, and that he appeared on television. This gives the article more credibility than the usual anonymous sources. It is interesting to see a gang member, so often portrayed as the key figures behind the rise of methamphetamine manufacture, openly speaking out against the drug - although one must question how serious he is, or whether he is really telling his members to stop using the drug themselves, but not to stop supplying it.
South, Kristian. 2003a. Cops brace for wave of deaths. Truth, 31 October 2003, 5.
Inaccurate scaremongering that claims "cops and health services" are bracing for "a wave of overdoses" that "could kill large numbers of people", as MDMA reaches New Zealand. MDMA is a “highly pure, highly-addictive form of ecstasy, in powdered form, with effects similar to a mixture of P, ecstasy and cocaine”. Simon Williamson (Customs) claims it is much purer than regular ecstasy, and an Auckland police officer offers opinions on the dangers of the drug. Both would seem unqualified to speak on this subject.
MDMA is not a 'form of ecstasy'. Ecstasy is the slang name for MDMA. Pills are made from powder pressed together. The powdered form is not "more pure" - either form can be pure or cut. MDMA is not like "a mixture of P, ecstasy and cocaine", it is ecstasy.
None of these predictions came true - there have been absolutely no deaths from MDMA usage since this article was published.
South, Kristian. 2003b. Kiwi teens' drug hell. Truth, 22 August 2003, 9.
New Zealand teenagers involved in the rave scene are using drugs heavily, with no awareness of the risks. A Truth reporter was offered drugs at a rave where party-goers were "smoking P like it was going out of fashion and popping pills like they were candy".
Such blatant public use of drugs, even at a private party, seems unlikely, as does smoking P (rather than snorting it), which requires paraphernalia that users would probably not take to raves.
An unnamed doctor claims that it was about time users "knew the risks rather than the propaganda they're getting from the dealers". No attempt is made to discover whether or not teenage ravers DO lack knowledge about drugs.
The article overstates the risks of drugs: methamphetamine is "proven to cause irreversible psychosis" (the irreversible is a falsehood); ecstasy users can easily "drink excessively and drown internally". Death from over-drinking is possible, but hardly easy or common.
South, Kristian. 2003c. Sickos swap pure speed for teen sex. Truth, 27 June 2003, 3.
Reports that Auckland men are travelling to Northland to have sex with teenagers and children in exchange for methamphetamine. Evidence is provided by anonymous quotes. "An uncle of a victim told Truth the sickos hired motel rooms or camping ground cabins were they took addicted schoolkids for sex and drugs."
The article then quotes local MP John Carter, whose willingness to go on the record suggests that these events are really occurring - or at least that Carter truly believes that they are. Carter told Truth that a community group had been set up to combat the problem, and that it needs to be publicised. He then claimed that 20% of his electorate's intermediate-age children were prostituting themselves in exchange for P - a remarkably high figure and surely a mistake, given that only 11% of the total New Zealand population have ever used stimulants of any kind, according to the 2001 New Zealand Drug Survey (Wilkins et al, 2002).
Sperber, Hannah. 2003. The Princess & P. North and South, (Dec): 36-45.
Describes the experience of 22-year-old Aucklander Emily Quelch, who became addicted to methamphetamine in 2002, and spent most of that year in trouble because of the drug, becoming a dealer, losing her daughter, her job and her driver's license. Reports on her arrest and imprisonment, and rehabilitation. Describes how she did not even know where she was during her court appearance, and suffered from depression and short temper after returning home to her parents' house. Explains some of the reasons she began using: to give her the energy to cope with study, a job and a child; and to lose weight. Drug counsellor Stuart Anderson says she fits the profile of a professional user, who takes methamphetamine to help with work or study.
Describes her early life and how she began using methamphetamine - accepting it for free from friends who were manufacturing the drug, then falling into a trap for the unwary: "accepting the drug gratis for a week, then panicking when the colossal and unexpected bill -- sometimes with the option of sex to pay --arrives with the comedown. Emily circumvented that trap: one of the meth cooks later became her boyfriend."
Describes the negative effects of the drug on her, and how her parents are supporting her in recovery.
Stevens, Mark. 2002. Police Vespa bar raid labelled draconian. The Evening Post, 27 June 2002, 3.
Reports opposing viewpoints on the police raid on Wellington bar Vespa. The police sealed the bar and searched all 120 patrons present, arresting four for possession of methamphetamine and ecstasy. NZ Council for Civil Liberties secretary Michael Bott said that the police had no right to detain and search everyone present "simply because of where they were". He claims the police actions were a breach of the Bill of Rights.
Police Senior Sergeant Steve Vaughan said that no complaints had been made and the search was conducted professionally. He argued that it was "an absolute disgrace" that methamphetamine was "available at inner-city bars", claiming that the bar staff themselves were selling the drug and that Bott should direct his concerns at the bar. Bott pointed out that anyone seen with drugs by police could have legally been searched in private, rather than involving the whole bar.
The article allows both sides of the story to be presented, though it might have been more informative if it had presented more comment from patrons who were at the bar - one patron is quoted, but provides little information. The article doesn't go to the effort of considering for itself whether the police actions might have been illegal, or attempt to find a legal expert to speak from a neutral point of view.
Swain, Pauline. 1997. A controversial designer drug is becoming more common in New Zealand. The Dominion, 7 June 1997, 19.
Describes the nascent ecstasy scene in New Zealand. Accurately reports health issues, although slightly alarmist.
Ecstasy is rare in New Zealand. according to a drug counsellor, an officer from the National Drug Intelligence Bureau, and (bizarrely) an article in a student magazine.
Ecstasy can be purchased by approaching someone 'dancing energetically' in a Wellington nightclub, and asking them where they got their ecstasy.
It seems unlikely that such an approach would be effective, given that the drug is illegal.
The history of ecstasy is reviewed. The suggestion that it was "freely available….as a psychotherapy tool" in the US in the 1970s is an exaggeration - some therapists made use of the drug, but it was not widely used (Collin 1998).
The article title is inaccurate - ecstasy is not a designer drug.
The article does correctly point out that, while ecstasy induces emotional closeness, it often dampens sexual desire (the myth that ecstasy is a sex drug is presented frequently in the media).
Swinney, Clare. 2003. Dark fire inside the drug biz. Investigate, (Oct): 36-43.
Methamphetamine used to be for an elite group - lawyers and gang members. It is now becoming more widely used, thanks to a deliberate strategy to market it to the middle-class. People "don't know what hit them" - P is much more powerful than other drugs they have taken.
The problem for police and government is that they have "cried wolf" before, notably over marijuana. Users are less likely to believe that P is really dangerous. Police should target suppliers not users, says a user. Changes to Class A won't affect usage of the drug.
P is destroying gangs, says this user, so it is actually good for police. Chris Wilkins says it is being manufactured by individuals within gangs, rather than by gangs themselves. He suggests P may occupy a similar status as alcohol did under Prohibition.
There are suggestions that domestic violence is increasing as a result of P. Many Women's Refuges have come forward to make this claim.
Taylor, Phil. 2002. 'His body language, his eyes. He was going to kill me'. Sunday Star-Times, 15 December 2002.
A profile of RSA triple murderer William Bell, of interest because Bell's actions are often blamed on his heavy methamphetamine use in the months leading up to the murders. Bell, though, has a long history of violent crime - he nearly killed a man, "looking for....the rush he gets from random violence". He has an anti-social personality disorder and a long criminal history: "
Taylor, Steve. 2003. Utopian fantasy is poles apart from drugs reality. New Zealand Herald, 7 October 2003.
An opinion piece responding to calls from Green MP Nandor Tanczos for cannabis to be legalised, in order to break the link between that drug and methamphetamine. Tanczos argued that the illegality of cannabis meant users bought the drug from suppliers who also offered access to P, meaning users were more likely to try P. Taylor, a drug counsellor, argues that this proves that Tanczos acknowledges that cannabis is a 'gateway drug' (though Tanczos's argument is somewhat removed from the usual definition of a 'gateway drug'). Taylor argues that legalising cannabis will increase the number of supply outlets (though he misses the point that these legal outlets would not be selling methamphetamine). He suggests, quite possibly correctly, that legalisation will increase the usage of cannabis (though arguably anyone who wants to use it already does so, given its easy availability and the low risk of punishment).
Taylor writes "Mr Tanczos stated that "most people who use cannabis never use hard drugs". This is a bold statement in the absence of any evidence".
In actual fact Tanczos' argument is correct, based on the available evidence. The percentage of New Zealanders who have ever tried cannabis is over 50%, those who have ever tried any other drug is 22% (Wilkins et al, 2002).
Taylor writes "in my experience, it is rare to work with a client in the alcohol and drug addiction treatment field who uses cannabis to the exclusion of other substances".
This is perhaps his problem - he sees the issue as a drug counsellor. He doesn't see many people who use cannabis alone, because they don't have drug problems. The people he sees with problems with harder drugs also use cannabis.
After criticising Tanczos for drawing a distinction between the danger posed by P, and that posed by cannabis, Taylor writes "most P users believe P to be a recreational party drug stimulant that is no different to, say, Ecstasy or Fantasy. It would appear they were wrong".
Taylor appears to be arguing that P is far more dangerous than ecstasy, exactly the argument he criticises Tanczos for making.
Umbers, Lee. 1998. Dangerous " love drug" back on the market for parties. The Sunday News, 27 December 1998, 3.
Aucklanders are still taking ecstasy, and may be taking more than ever, even though it 'killed Ngaire O'Neill'. (The inquest had not been held at this time). An un-named source says it was the first time she had taken ecstasy (later shown to be incorrect). There are risks in drinking too much fluid (this turned out to be the cause of O'Neill's death). Ecstasy does not dissolve completely in water, and also tastes vile, "making it hard to spike a drink" (it was alleged that O'Neill's drink had been spiked).
Ecstasy is "dangerous" because users become too trusting.
Pills are "manufactured in England and imported through Australia", and the effects of ecstasy last "12 to 24 hours for a novice" (something of an exaggeration).
The article's sources are anonymous, and don't seem particularly well informed.
Walsh, Rebecca. 2003. Alarm over amphetamine babies. New Zealand Herald, 25 June 2003.
Reports that an increasing number of babies are being born to women who use methamphetamine. While this initially appears alarming, and the article is backed up by interviews with named medical professionals, close reading shows that there is no medical evidence that maternal methamphetamine use is harmful.
The article discusses the problems caused by maternal use of opiates, and notes that a similar number of babies are now being born to methamphetamine users. Then "two babies, born as drug addicts, are going through withdrawal", which might lead a casual reader to believe they are the babies of methamphetamine users. In fact, their mothers used opiates - a completely different class of drugs.
The article eventually notes that no women have been found who used methamphetamine all the way through their pregnancy - all stopped as soon as they learned they were pregnant - though doctors speculate (probably reasonably) that many women are not admitting their use. Dr Carl Kuschel notes that doctors don't know what the impact of meth use was on a baby's brain development, or whether it would lead to addiction.
However, meth is "a drug that people become dependent on very quickly", making the possibility of babies being born addicted a realistic one.
While this article is far more well-researched than the equivalent Truth articles, it still conveys the impression that there is a known, serious problem of babies with drug-abusing mothers. The actual evidence does not yet exist to support this claim. [Obviously, it would be safest to assume that maternal drug use could be dangerous to the child].
Warren, Amanda. 2005. Call for nos shop to go. The Press, 12 April 2005, 4.
New Brighton parents were attempting to close a social tonic store, Herbal Heaven. They were concerned that their children might purchase BZP and NOS. They objected to litter and vandalism at a nearby school.
Some concerns seem over-stated, including a fear that children would catch hepatitis from discarded NOS canisters or balloons.
There was little discussion on whether the drugs are truly harmful, whether the store should be held responsible for littering committed by its customers, or whether the parents, not the store, should be responsible for policing their children's actions.
Watson, Lois. 2002. War on drugs begins. The Press, 18 December 2002.
Reports on government decisions to take "tough new action" against methamphetamine manufacturers. The first step is the reclassification of methamphetamine from Class B to Class A, approved by Cabinet. Police officers, and Minister George Hawkins, are quoted as approving of the move, noting that it gives them additional powers to search for the drug.
Head of the Ministerial Action Group on Alcohol and Drugs, Jim Anderton, said the move was "an unequivocal message to manufacturers of the drug that they would face the same sanction as murderers". "This is a declaration of war. We don't intend to give any quarter. There will be nowhere to hide," he said.
Wynn, Kirsty. 2002. Dance of death for teen ravers. The Sunday News, 31 March 2002.
Raves are deadly, drug-fuelled events. Doctor Tony Smith warns "we have already seen a death [from Fantasy] and no doubt we will see more".
There have been "a number of ecstasy-related deaths", and there will be more, until "young ravers realise how dangerous the party drugs are".
None of the people who have died from drugs were 'teen ravers', and the number of ecstasy-related deaths is only three, and has not increased in years, implying drug users may have learned harm reduction strategies, and that the articles predictions are wrong.