Policy Papers III
Ministry of Health. 2002. [Safe dance parties: the small book]. Wellington: Ministry of Health. [accessed 6 March 2005].
A brochure that sets out basic advice on safe party going. It is targeted at party goers, rather than organisers (see Ministry of Health, 1999). It features minimal text and bright colours. It discusses the risks of various drugs, including the legal risks, and suggests users keep their friends informed as to what they have taken, and stay around people while under the influence.
Advice includes staying with trusted friends, taking a designated driver, and having a back-up transport plan. It suggests checking out the venue on first arriving, in order to identify layout, toilets, security guards, water, exits and meeting points. Means of avoiding heat stroke and drink spiking are suggested. The advice is simple and easy to follow, and backed up with reasons. There are some suggestions on safe sex, but they basically equate to 'carry condoms' and 'be aware of the risk of rape', which aren't especially helpful.
It suggests a checklist of things to take to a rave, all of which are sensible, although many venues wouldn't let customers bring water bottles into the rave (there is the risk that the 'water' is really alcohol, or contains drugs). There are some basic descriptions of common drugs, and good advice not to mix drugs (even noting that alcohol "cancels out the subtle effects" of ecstasy, and that taking ecstasy and speed together can be stronger than taking twice as much of one drug). This is quite useful knowledge and probably gets across the harm minimisation message better than suggesting abstinence, or even just pointing out the negative effects of a drug.
While no sources are cited, the information concurs with commonly accepted medical knowledge, making it a useful resource.
Ministry of Youth Development. 2004. Strengthening drug education in school communities: best practice handbook for design, delivery and evaluation: years 7-13: for principals, health teachers, drug education providers and funders of drug education. Wellington, N.Z.: Ministry of Youth Development. [accessed 3 May 2005].
This handbook expands on the drug education guidelines by providing processes for evaluating drug education and for assessing external providers for their ability to provide drug education based on evidence-based best practice. It provides a detailed description of drug education best practice; a programme plan and evaluation guidelines; and a checklist of quality expectations for external providers. The clearly stated goal is harm reduction, with a realistic, evidence-based approach to information. A number of specific exercises are suggested for students to undertake. Social tonics, ecstasy and methamphetamine are mentioned briefly in passing.
National Drug Policy. 2001. New Zealand country report: Report prepared for the 44th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs Vienna: March 2001. Wellington, N.Z.: Ministry of Health. [accessed 4 May 2005]
Reports on the drug situation in New Zealand as at March 2001. By international standards New Zealand has few drug problems. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are the major causes of drug harm in New Zealand, but there has been a recent rise in the use of amphetamines. Seizures of ecstasy and methamphetamine are reported. The social and economic cost of drug use is noted, mainly in regard to opiate addicts on the methadone programme, or injecting drug users who experience health problems through sharing needles. Discusses government strategies - the National Drug Policy (Ministry of Health, 1998) and the various committees that have been formed to focus on this issue. Discusses changes to regulations, enhanced drug monitoring, and education programmes.
National Drug Policy. 2003. New Zealand country report: report prepared for the 46th Session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Vienna, April 2003. Wellington, N.Z.: Ministry of Health. [accessed 3 May 2005].
Reports on the drug situation in New Zealand as at 2003. Cannabis remains the most popular illegal drug, but use of methamphetamine is increasing. Says that law enforcement agencies are noticing an increase in crime, especially violent crime, associated with methamphetamine, and that public health agencies are noticing methamphetamine-related problems. Describes the price and purity of methamphetamine available in New Zealand. Suggests that the use of ecstasy is also increasing, as are ecstasy-related problems. Describes Customs successes in intercepting shipments of illegal drugs, and precursors such as pseudoephedrine. Describes government response to these issues, including the Action Plan on Alcohol and Illicit Drugs (National Drug Policy, 2004) and the Methamphetamine Action Plan (Ministerial Action Group on Drugs, 2003). Describes demand reduction and supply control efforts, and details New Zealand's treaty compliance and attempts at regional cooperation.
National Drug Policy. 2004. Action plan on alcohol and illicit drugs as at March 2004. [Wellington, N.Z.]: National Drug Policy. [accessed 6 May 2005].
Briefly summarises the National Drug Policy's action plan on drugs.
The plan aims at harm minimisation through:
- demand reduction, including providing information on harm caused by drugs;
- supply control: targeting importing and manufacturing, and disrupting organised crime; and
- problem limitation (e.g. harm reduction): effective assessment of needs, and early treatment intervention.
The plan lists specific projects:
- education (information gathering, resource development, publishing standards and guidelines);
- review of the effectiveness of education programmes;
- research into school-based programmes and development of new materials;
- enforcement: the re-classification of methamphetamine as a Class A drug, amendments to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 to prevent importation of precursors, amendments to the Proceeds of Crimes Act 1991 to allow greater confiscation of profits, the introduction of the Counter Terrorism Bill, allowing installation of tracking devices by police, enhanced border control techniques for customs;
- treatment: reviews and stock takes of what services are available;
- research: various research projects including Wilkins et al, 2004.
Compared with earlier policy reports (e.g. Ministry of Health, 1998) this one focuses more on legal strategies and supply reduction/enforcement strategies. The demand reduction or treatment strategies are still at an evaluatory stage.
New Zealand Drug Foundation. [2003]. Drugs in focus: a guide to alcohol and other drugs. Wellington, [N.Z.]: New Zealand Drug Foundation.
Provides information on drugs: effects, legal issues, helping abusers, pregnancy, driving, and information on specific drugs. It is well-written and accurate, though hardly "comprehensive", as it is only 33 pages long.
Overall, the information is basic, but well-presented and accurate, describing both the positive and negative effects of ecstasy and methamphetamine, meaning it avoids being seen as scaremongering.
New Zealand Police. 2004. [Safety tips: methamphetamine]. [Wellington, N.Z.]: New Zealand Police. [accessed 2 June 2005].
Basic information for the general public on methamphetamine and its effects. Most of the article describes the manufacturing process, including hazards and environmental pollution. Advice on recognising clandestine laboratories, such as strange smells, vapour, windows covered, is provided.
A summary of what Police are doing to deal with the problem is included. This naturally focuses on law enforcement activities. The Police focus is on supply control, through shutting down clandestine laboratories, intercepting precursor chemicals, and working with Customs to prevent the importation of drugs.
Scott, Tom, and Trevor Grice. 2005. The great brain robbery. 2nd ed. Crows Nest, NSW: Allen & Unwin.
A humorous, easy-to-read but sometimes simplistic guide to drugs, aimed at parents and children. Covers material such as how to know if a child is using drugs, how to intervene, and how children can say no to drugs.
Includes a short guide to each drug, which contain some errors. Ecstasy and methamphetamine are incorrectly grouped together with GHB as 'designer drugs' (especially odd as there is a separate section on amphetamines). Unsupported and dubious claims include:
- that ecstasy use leads to dependence;
- that the average life expectancy of a P user is 6 years;
- that P is typically manufactured by the 'Nazi method' (which introduces obviously negative associations).
The authors criticise ecstasy for being unnatural, then claim that being natural doesn't make social tonics safe. The short write-up of social tonics is fair, noting that there is little research to support or disprove claims that they are harmful.
Overall the book takes a 'just say no' approach, and is often sensationalist in its depiction of drugs. This goes against expert advice on drug education (e.g. Ministry of Youth Development, 2004), which suggests education should be realistic and follow a harm minimisation approach.
Social Tonics Association of New Zealand. 2005. BZP drink withdrawn from dairies, highlights need for control. [Auckland, N.Z.]: Social Tonics Association of New Zealand. [accessed 4 May 2005].
STANZ claims that the sale of a soft drink containing BZP is inappropriate. STANZ says that research has 'proven' that BZP-based substances are safe (a debatable point), but that it should not be sold where children could access it. The soft drink manufacturer has voluntarily withdrawn it from sale in dairies, but is continuing to sell it in specialty shops and nightclubs - "places where adults go". STANZ's Matt Bowden claims that the social tonics are reducing the market for illicit drugs.
Social Tonics Association of New Zealand. 2005. Code of Practice for the Manufacture, Labelling, Distribution and Marketing of Social Tonics in New Zealand. [Auckland, N.Z.]: Social Tonics Association of New Zealand. [accessed 2 June 2005].
Manufacturing, distribution and marketing of social tonics must display social responsibility, in order to protect consumers and help them make informed choices about using social tonics. The guidelines fill a gap left by legislation, which does not classify social tonics other than as food supplements. There is no evidence that social tonics do cause harm, but there is a perception of risk.
The Code complies with government goals of harm reduction. It includes a risk management classification system, which will classify every substance, and recommend appropriate responses, from warning labels to requirements on ingredients to prohibition. STANZ will also offer quality marks for suppliers. Sets out good manufacturing, marketing and advertising principles.
Discusses an online, industry-based reporting system that will enable users to log issues, and the industry to investigate them.
Contains sensible recommendations, without providing much detail about appropriate manufacturing and advertising requirements. Somewhat defensive about any suggestion that social tonics might have caused adverse health incidents.