Pubdate: Wed, 28 Mar 2001
Source: Dominion, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2001 The Dominion
Contact:  P O Box 1297, Wellington, New Zealand
Fax: +64 4 474-0350
Website: http://www.inl.co.nz/wnl/dominion/index.html
Author: Marianne Betts

NZ MAY USE AUSTRALIAN ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN

A hard-hitting Australian campaign designed to stop children taking drugs 
may be adopted in New Zealand if it proves to be effective across the 
Tasman, Health Minister Annette King says.

The A$27 million (NZ$33 million) television and pamphlet campaign features 
shock television advertisements showing children in body bags, and drug 
addicted prostitutes dreaming about a normal, happy life.

Mrs King said New Zealand had utilised Australian methods in the fight 
against tobacco addiction and if their anti-drug campaign proved effective 
it could be introduced in this country.

It would be similar to the horror drink-drive ads already screened on 
television in New Zealand.

Latest Health Ministry figures showed about 5000 New Zealanders die each 
year from drug, alcohol and tobacco use - 4500 die from tobacco related 
causes, 231 deaths are alcohol related and 50 are associated with illicit 
and other drugs.

National drug policy team leader Matthew Allen said while legal drugs, 
namely tobacco and alcohol were the biggest problems, there was a problem 
with illegal drugs.

Opiates, which included heroin, homebake and opium, synthetic drugs - those 
manufactured in a laboratory using chemicals, which were mainly imported - 
and cannabis, largely grown in New Zealand, had all caused deaths.

Between 1990 and 1996, 156 people died from opiate use, and a further 25 
dead people were found to have opiates in their blood, he said.

Two deaths were linked to hallucinogenic drugs, which included magic 
mushrooms, LSD and the amphetamine Ecstasy. There were three cannabis 
related deaths during this time.

Mr Allen said before the campaign was introduced in New Zealand it would 
have to be pre-tested to ensure it would work.

"Some health education programmes in the past have had a negative impact - 
they've done the opposite of what they were supposed to do."

It was important the campaign had credibility. "It has to be believable and 
not hyped up. It can't strike fear into the hearts of people - the messages 
have to be supported by fact."

The Australian campaign will be aimed at parents, showing them how to spot 
whether their children are smoking cannabis, injecting heroin, sniffing 
glue, or taking designer drugs, and giving them guidance on how to tell 
their children about the dangers.
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