Pubdate: Tue, 14 Nov 2006
Source: Rotorua Daily Post (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2006 Rotorua Daily Post.
Contact:  http://www.dailypost.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2785
Author: Kelly Makiha

DRUG USERS GO FOR LEGAL HIGH

Drug users are ditching P for the legal highs of party  pills, sellers claim.

The claim is partly based on the popularity explosion  of party pills 
in Rotorua where some retailers are  selling $2000 to $3000 worth of 
party pills per week.

The herbal and caffeine pills range in price from $8 to  $30 each 
according to strength. There are also  indications that cannabis 
sales have dropped slightly  and the use of methamphetamine, or P, is 
levelling out.

Bay of Plenty crime manager Detective Inspector Garth  Bryan said 
although cannabis had been a huge problem in  the region, there was 
evidence trading had slowed in  the past couple of years.

The latest issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal  reports greater 
awareness of health risks associated  with P and increased drug 
enforcement by police may  have helped stabilise its use.

But Rotorua party pill sellers reckon the alternatives  to illegal 
highs are playing a big part.

Skin Graft Leather and Lace owner David Young said the  recent talk 
about banning party pills would only make  the illegal drug market soar.

"There are many people I have got off illegal drugs and  on legal 
drugs. Everyone wants something to make them  feel good and they will 
go back to taking illegal drugs  if party pills are not around."

He said he was selling party pills to men in their 60s  who he was 
sure had spent nearly a lifetime smoking  cannabis. He said the 
amount of money being spent on  party pills had to be impacting on 
tinny houses and P  dealers.

A friend running a similar shop on Karangahape Rd in  Auckland was 
making $8000 a day, he said. Skin Graft  Leather and Lace sells on 
average $600 a day worth of  party pills.

Wild Things owner Sue Rutherford said party pills were  becoming more 
popular because word was quickly  spreading about the dangers of P.

"Some of them say they are better than P - P pretty  much stuffs your 
brain up whereas party pills are more  safe. But in saying that, I 
still get people coming in  wanting to buy glass pipes and that's a 
sign there are  plenty of P smokers. I don't sell glass pipes for that reason."

Mr Bryan said police had no way of measuring the impact  of party 
pills on the illegal drug market.

"I don't think there has been an increase in the use of  cannabis. 
There may well have been a decrease as people  are more aware of the 
bad effects."

Cannabis remained a major concern, especially in the  Bay as the 
forests and weather made for ideal growing  conditions.

"Cannabis is still the most widely used illicit drug on  the market. 
Its price has not really changed in the  past 20 years and there has 
always been a large supply  around."

Mr Bryan said it was hard to determine whether the New  Zealand 
Medical Journal's predictions were correct.

Five P laboratories have been busted in the Bay this  year, more than 
any other year.

"But P is the new drug. At various times throughout  history drugs 
like heroin and LSD have come and gone  ... looking historically you 
would have to suspect that  at some stage another new drug will be created."
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MAP posted-by: Elaine