Pubdate: Fri, 16 Jan 2004
Source: Manawatu Evening Standard (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2004 Manawatu Evening Standard
Contact:  http://www.manawatueveningstandard.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1057
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

HIGH DOSE OF METH USE MORE PREVALENT

Methamphetamine users are increasingly turning to harder forms of the drug 
and investigating more potent methods of consuming it, a Massey University 
study has revealed.

Research to be made public today confirms that snorting lesser forms of the 
drug is out, and smoking the highly potent derivative P is in.

The study, carried out by Massey's Centre for Social and Health Outcomes 
Research and Evaluation, investigated the changing trends in 
methamphetamine use over the past six months.

It found intravenous methamphetamine use was also on the rise. "Shooting 
up" the drug dramatically increased the risks of users contracting other 
illnesses, and spreading them to partners, family members or the community, 
research head Chris Wilkins said.

He believed preventing the spread of intravenous drug use among 
methamphetamine users should be "an important priority".

Methamphetamine, particularly P, is also finding a more diverse market, 
with the drug moving beyond its dance-party origins, the research says.

Regular users now come from virtually every walk of life, from professional 
and business classes to lower socio-economic groups.

The traditional cannabis "tinny house" was diversifying, and moving into 
selling P, the research found.

"Drug dealers are developing marketing strategies to appeal to less wealthy 
groups, such as selling the drug in smaller weights for $20 to $50 from 
tinny houses," Dr Wilkins said.

The research findings come as no surprise to Detective Senior Sergeant 
Craig Sheridan of Palmerston North CIB.

"I know from search warrants that have been executed in recent months it is 
not uncommon to come across instruments being used to smoke P. That tells 
us that more people are obviously smoking it than using other methods."

That tinny houses were selling the drug was no revelation either - now that 
cannabis use appeared to be declining.

One example of P's spread was the number of domestic violence cases being 
referred to CIB because of the seriousness of the assaults. These cases 
were often the result of methamphetamine use, he said.