Source: Evening Post (New Zealand)
Contact:  http://www.evpost.co.nz/
Pubdate: Thu, 23 Jul 1998
Newshawk note: Incidentally, New Zealand's newly released National Drug
Policy is
available on-line at the following website:
http://www.moh.govt.nz/phg/drugalc.htm

FIVE-YEAR DRUG STRATEGY LAUNCHED BY GOVT

Wellington, July 21 - A Government plan to combat drug abuse and  prevent
drug-related harm was launched by Associate Health Minister  Roger Sowry
today.

The National Drug Policy deals with tobacco, alcohol, and illicit  drugs.

Mr Sowry said tobacco and alcohol were New Zealand's two big  public health
killers, but there was a need to address the growth of  illicit and other
drugs and the problems they created.

``Chronic cannabis use or glue sniffing can lead to people  alienating
themselves from society, and education, work and social  opportunities are
lost. Using illicit drugs will also lead to  trouble with the police and
involvement in the criminal justice  system,'' Mr Sowry said in a
statement.

``Drug use is an issue that affects all levels of our society and  imposes
serious health and economic costs on all New Zealanders.''

The report said about 5000 people died each from the effects of  tobacco
and alcohol.

The five-year strategy will bring together government and  non-government
agencies that work with drug abuse and provides a  framework for a common
goal.

Mr Sowry said it made sense for all these groups to coordinate  the way
they delivered services.

``The Government's main priority for action on illicit drugs is  to reduce
the widespread use of cannabis and use of other drugs.

``In particular, we want to see a reduction in the number of  young people
using cannabis, those at-risk, pregnant women and  Maori.''

One of the policy's goals was to prevent a hard drugs market  becoming
established in New Zealand.

Mr Sowry said as well as focusing on controlling the supply of  drugs, the
policy aimed to reduce the demand for drugs and put in  place effective
health services to treat people who ended up  developing drug problems.

The Government had established a special committee of cabinet ministers to
oversee the policy and recommend new drug-related initiatives.

- ---
Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)