Pubdate: Thu, 13 Mar 2003
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2003 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Patrick Gower, Police Reporter

KILLERS' DRUG OF CHOICE

Speed was once a sniffable party powder drug known as "poor man's
cocaine".

Now methamphetamine is most popular in its crystallised, "pure" form,
its users ranging from the very poor to millionaires.

Known as "pure", "P" or "burn", it now rivals marijuana for popularity
in some places.

Its users like the clear, long high the crystals deliver when
burned.

Police and drug experts call it a scourge, a drug epidemic behind a
surge in meaningless violence. Police statistics released this week
show crimes linked to the drug jumped 28 per cent last year.

"Pure" is now being described as the methamphetamine version of crack
cocaine.

Its popularity can be seen in the annual number of crude production
"labs" that are busted - nearly 150 last year compared with just nine
in 2000.

It was the drug of choice of RSA triple killer William Bell, and Ese
Falealii, the gunman convicted of killing a pizza worker and bank
teller during a spree of armed robberies last year was also a user.

Various other crime sprees and suicides have been attributed to the
drug.

"Pure" is easily available and costs about $1000 a gram. It looks like
rock salts.

Users buy it in bags by the "point" - roughly a tenth of a gram - for
around $100 to $150.

The drug is smoked by heating the crystals and inhaling the vapour.
Once the crystals cool again, users can reheat it to get further
"hits". A point can be used anywhere from three to 20 times.

The most popular way to smoke it is with a glass pipe and gas
fire-lighter, although it could just be heated up on a broken piece of
lightbulb if necessary.

There is an initial rush, but users say its effects do not wear off
for up to 10 hours.
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