Pubdate: Wed, 04 Apr 2007
Source: Gisborne Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2007 The Gisborne Herald Co. Ltd
Contact:  http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/home.htm
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/924
Author: Iain Gillies
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

DRUGS ARE RUINING FAR TOO MANY YOUNG LIVES IN NEW ZEALAND

Our police are waging a constant battle against drug  traffickers. 
But their job is getting no easier. Now a  UN agency is voicing 
concern at organised criminal  groups continuing to use Oceania as a 
major trans-shipment area for illicit drugs.

A report released this month cites the smuggling of  methamphetamine 
(or P) through the region from  South-east Asia to Canada and, to a 
lesser extent, the  United States.

It also notes that New Zealand police continued  detecting attempted 
diversions of medicines from China  containing pseudoephedrine -- 
which is used in the  manufacture of P.

"The illicit market continued to be supplied with such  medicines 
through the diversion of over-the-counter  medicines and theft," it states.

During 2005, more than 146kg of pseudoephedrine and  20kg of 
ephedrine were seized in New Zealand.

The report, by the International Narcotics Control  Board, says the 
illicit manufacture of P seemed to be  increasing in New Zealand.

A total 204 such laboratories had been dismantled in  2006, compared 
with 182 in 2004.

That's a shocking statistic!

Cannabis has remained the "drug of choice" among  abusers in many 
parts of Oceania, according to the  control board.

This included Australia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua  New Guinea, 
Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

In New Zealand, the agency noted that the outdoor  cultivation of 
cannabis plants had been supplemented by  operations using 
sophisticated indoor hydroponics.

New Zealand has also come under the agency's eye for  substances not 
under international control, citing the  seizure of 10kg of 
gamma-butyrolactone in 2005.

"GBL is becoming increasingly popular among drug  abusers in New 
Zealand. In addition, there are  indications that the abuse of party 
pills containing  benzylpiperazine has become a growing problem."

Our advice to yougsters? Don't be stupid. Stay clean.  Concentrate on 
your studies, your work and your sport.  Don't let drugs shatter your 
dreams and ruin your  lives.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman