Pubdate: Sun, 01 Feb 2004
Source: Sunday Star-Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2004 Sunday Star-Times
Contact:  http://www.sundaystartimes.co.nz
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1064
Author: By Charlotte Lee-Smith
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

REMEDY FOR 'P' USERS PROBED

A herbal supplement claiming to help drug users withdraw from P is being 
investigated by the Health Ministry.

StopP is sold widely in novelty shops and sex stores. Its label claims it 
assists "in times of withdrawal from methamphetamines" and helps replace 
chemicals lost during P use.

A website ad says the supplement "contains the organic building blocks and 
healing plants to rebuild your brain and body and distract you from the 
craving".

Herbal supplements are covered by the Food Safety Authority unless they 
make therapeutic claims.

Medsafe manager Clare Van Der Lem said the website ad made therapeutic 
claims and therefore StopP would have to be classified as a medicine.

"If products have not been assessed and the minister of health has not 
given her consent for distribution, then the companies are in breach of the 
Medicines Act."

The maximum fine for breaching the act by advertising or distributing a 
medicine without consent is $100,000.

StopP is produced by Stargate International. Owner Matt Bowden would not 
comment on the investigation.

National Addiction Centre director Doug Sellman said: "These products may 
get people thinking they've found an antidote and this product will protect 
their brain, so they can use more (P)."

But Auckland University researcher Dr Helen Warren is hoping for clinical 
trials of the drug after seeing StopP produce a "marked improvement" in her 
clients. "Clients using StopP were much more able to concentrate and stay 
in one place."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom