Briefing to the Incoming Parliament

NZ Drug Foundation Policy Briefing 2020 – 2023 The Drug Foundation has been at the forefront of major alcohol and other drug debates for over 30 years. We take the lead in Aotearoa , promoting healthy approaches to alcohol and other drugs.

Creating solutions with communities We work with communities, especially tangata whenua, to find effective solutions to drug issues.

Public education, information and outreach We create resources and lead projects in schools and workplaces to reduce alcohol and drug harm.

Policy development We advocate for evidence-based policies and effective treatment services that will build a healthy society with the least possible harm from drug use.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Tēnā koe The New Zealand Drug Foundation’s vision is for an Aotearoa free from drug harm. Our mission is to be the catalyst for people, their communities, service providers and policy makers to take action that prevents drug harm.

Like you, we are concerned about the harms drugs There are solutions. There are some relatively easy wins that cause in New Zealand. could make a big difference, as well as some deeper reform needed to shift our framework to a health-based approach, There is some cause to celebrate recent progress: there which has been proven to reduce harmful use and use has been investment in new treatment approaches, with among young people. We need to overhaul the Misuse of new funding and renewed energy in this sector. Moves to Drugs Act – making tweaks will not work, as last year’s legalise drug checking will save lives, as will the new High amendment to encourage police discretion to reduce Alert early warning system. All of this has been met with convictions for minor drug offences has shown. wide public support, as we continue to see a mood for change in how we address drug harm in Aotearoa. We now have flagship reports that all set out excellent options for Government moving forward: the Health and However, our dated legislation, the Misuse of Drugs Act Disability System Review (Simpson report); He Ara Oranga, (1975), ongoing gaps in treatment availability, and the Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health under-investment in prevention, public education and and Addiction; and Whakamaua, the Māori Health Action early intervention is creating a vicious cycle for people Plan. All these reports recommend providing support earlier, who use illicit drugs. providing a full range of services to meet different needs and cultural approaches, reducing inequities, and improving This year, treatment providers have been reporting outcomes for young people and Māori. difficulties meeting an increased demand for their services due to the effects of Covid-19, which has This briefing sets out our recommendations for putting amplified an existing shortage. One reported a 300% those reviews into action. We look forward to working increase in referrals since the nationwide lockdown. with you to reduce drug harm over the next three years When someone seeks treatment but can’t access it, and beyond! a window of opportunity is lost to help that person.

People continue to be convicted for minor drug offences. In 2019/20, 3067 people in total were convicted of low-level drug offences, and for 1126 people, the drug conviction was their most serious offence. Of those convicted, almost half were under 30 years, 71% were Sarah Helm men and Māori made up 39%. Executive Director

Alcohol continues to be our most harmful drug. Meanwhile, we are seeing a second wave of harm from highly toxic synthetic psychoactive substances. Communities continue to be deeply concerned about the effects of . MDMA and use has risen, while tobacco use has declined.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 01 High-level recommendations

PRIORITY PRIORITY Reform our laws to Reduce treat drug use as a inequities 1. health issue | PAGE. 08 2. for Māori | PAGE. 14 • Replace the Misuse of Drugs Act with a new law • Fund a full range of primary mental health and that treats drug use and possession as a health addiction services led by Māori, for Māori. issue to reduce drug harm among those that • Strengthen alcohol regulations and replace need it, and shift funding to back this up. criminal sanctions for the use of drugs with • Remove criminal penalties for growing, using a full range of treatment and detox services and sharing small quantities of cannabis. – removing discretion from Police. A large majority of New Zealanders support decriminalisation. • Improve our medicinal cannabis system PRIORITY so products can be made available, and are affordable. Provide a statutory defence from Strengthen education prosecution for those who grow plants for and keep young people their own medical use. 3. in school | PAGE. 16 • Review the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act to reduce the huge harm caused by alcohol. • Strengthen the way the health learning area of the New Zealand curriculum is implemented, to equip young people with skills to think critically and make good choices about drug and alcohol use. • Remove the ability of schools to exclude students under the age of sixteen, and implement the recommendations of the Tomorrow’s Schools review.

02 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz PRIORITY Invest more effectively PRIORITY in education, prevention, Develop innovative solutions harm reduction, and to reduce drug harm in 4. treatment | PAGE. 18 5. communities | PAGE. 22 • Ensure a stepped increase in treatment sector • Respond to methamphetamine harm in funding to meet demand, including specific communities by investing in community funding to respond to ongoing challenges responses, reforming punitive drug laws, from Covid-19. and funding research. • Fund the development of health approaches • Build safer working environments by requiring across the whole spectrum of use, not just all workplaces to have impairment policies and for people experiencing long-term harms enact regulations on how drug testing should from addiction. (and shouldn’t) be used in the workplace. • Fund behaviour change messaging to reach • Keep people safely housed by investing in all users, and implement a full range of alcohol Housing First programmes and funding initiatives moderation activities (for example as previously to reduce drug harm in temporary housing. run by the Alcohol Advisory Council). • Make our roads safer by directing more resources to roadside testing for alcohol impairment and rethinking the Land Transport (Drug Driving) Amendment Bill. • Respond to ongoing harm from synthetic cannabinoids by funding the Acute Drug Harm Community of Practice and reforming drug laws. • Ensure vulnerable people are not unfairly evicted from residential tenancies for using methamphetamine. • Invest in drug checking to make sure anyone who needs to can access the service. • Establish a comprehensive package of drug indicators with a dedicated survey for drug and alcohol use.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 03 But first – what you need to know about drugs in New Zealand

WE HAVE HIGH RATES MOST DRUG USE IS DRUGS CAN CAUSE OF DRUG USE NOT HARMFUL SERIOUS HARM TO SOME The drugs that cause most harm While it’s safest not to use For a small group of users, drug use in New Zealand are alcohol alcohol and other drugs, – whether legal or illegal – can cause and tobacco. Over 800,000 most people are not harmed significant harm. Harms include New Zealand adults much, or at all, by their use. illness, injury, addiction and even drink hazardously.1 death, with the effects borne by whole communities. • Almost 1 in 3 New Zealand adults NEW ZEALAND ADULTS have a moderate to high risk of experiencing health and other drank alcohol in the problems from their current pattern % past year.1 82 of substance use – mostly tobacco 4 out of 5 New Zealand (20% of adults) and alcohol (15% adults who used an illicit drug 3 in the past year reported of adults). of New Zealand adults 2 % currently smoke tobacco.1 no harmful effects. • About 5,000 people die each 13 year from smoking and second- hand smoke.4 used illicit drugs • Some communities continue % 2 17 in the past year. to suffer huge harm from methamphetamine use, which can cause hallucinations, erratic used cannabis behaviour and psychosis for some % 1 5 15 in the past year. who use heavily or frequently. • 1 out of 5 New Zealand adults drink in a way that risks physical 7 out of 8 or mental harm.1 New Zealand adults who used alcohol in the past year reported no 7 2 harmful effects.

8 70More than 70 deaths have been connected to synthetic cannabinoids since mid-2017,6 and many more New Zealanders have experienced serious long-lasting health effects.

04 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz 50,000 THE MOST DISADVANTAGED ARE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH OFTEN THE WORST AFFECTED HELP AVAILABLE • Mäori, Pacific people and people • Around 50,000 New Zealanders living in areas of socio-economic receive support to reduce their deprivation are more likely to alcohol or drug use each year,9 experience harm from their own but estimates suggest that only alcohol or drug use,7 and are most about a third of those who could likely to want help with their drug benefit from treatment are use but not receive it.7 accessing it.10 • Services are overextended and underfunded. People often have to wait until their problems have become severe before they can access help. • When people seek help but % cannot access it, we miss our window of opportunity to support them. 87of people in prison have experienced an alcohol or other drug problem in their lifetime.8

Only third of those who could benefit from treatment are accessing it.10

Around 50,000 people want help to reduce their alcohol or drug use each year.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 05 CONTINUED What you need to know about drugs in New Zealand

COVID-19 HAS IMPACTED MDMA is a Class B drug, harms WHY DO PEOPLE TAKE DRUGS? BOTH DRUG USE AND to the user are relatively low People use alcohol and other drugs TREATMENT SERVICES compared to other substances. for many reasons, including pleasure During the countrywide lockdown, Recent reports indicate an increase in and recreation, spiritual discovery, addiction services reported some the amount of gamma-butyrolactone performance enhancement, increase in drug use, commonly (GBL) seized by Police and Customs experimentation, peer pressure or alcohol and cannabis, compounding in 2020.14 This is a central nervous to self-medicate physical problems, an existing shortage of treatment system depressant that carries emotional pain or trauma.16 places. Some decreases were also significant risks because the reported, with some clients using threshold to overdose can be WHY DO SOME PEOPLE STRUGGLE the time to cut down or stop using a matter of millilitres. drugs altogether.11 WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL? The long-term impacts of Covid-19 The likelihood of harmful use patterns NOT ALL DRUGS developing depends on a range of on alcohol and drug use are still ARE CREATED EQUAL unclear but may be significant: social, cultural and genetic factors. the psychosocial impacts of major In a study by the Independent Although chemical addiction can 15 crises can be broad and long term. Scientific Committee on Drugs, play a part, more significant factors which ranked 20 drugs across 16 contributing to substance use Treatment providers have reported measures of harm, , crack disorders are trauma and abuse, difficulties meeting an increased and crystal methamphetamine mental health problems, stress, demand for their services as already- were deemed worst for individuals poverty, and housing insecurity. vulnerable people deal with the using them. Alcohol, heroin and challenges and uncertainty that crack cocaine ranked the worst in a global pandemic has brought us. terms of impact on society, with Increased demand for alcohol and alcohol ranked worst overall. drug services is likely to continue Ecstasy and LSD were ranked for some years.12 We can prevent among the least damaging. future negative health outcomes by strengthening the alcohol and other drug sector now. Harm caused by drugs

ILLICIT DRUGS 80 CURRENTLY OF CONCERN 72 HARM TO USERS (CW 46) HARM TO OTHERS (CW 54) 70 Methamphetamine use remains 60 relatively low across the population 55 54 as a whole, with 1% of the population 50 using it in the past year.1 However, the harms caused by its sale and 40 use are particularly severe in 33 30 27

Overall harm score Overall 26 some communities. 23 20 20 19 Synthetic cannabinoids remain 15 15 14 13 11 a big focus of concern, with new 9 10 9 10 7 7 and dangerous analogues regularly 6 discovered by Customs and Police. 0 LSD Khat Seizures by Police and Customs GHB Heroin Butane Ecstasy Alcohol Cocaine Tobacco Cannabis show a substantial increase in the Ketamine Mushrooms Amfetamine

quantity of MDMA (ecstasy) seized cocaine Crack Buprenorphine 13 Metamfetamine in New Zealand in 2019. While Anabolic steroids Drugs ordered by their overall harm scores.15

06 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz WHY DO WE NEED TO FOCUS ON DRUGS?

Harm from drugs affect every level of society. Improving the way we respond to drug and alcohol issues will help fix many of the big issues facing New Zealand today. $1.8b SOCIETAL COST Drug use costs New Zealand $1.8 billion each year in health, social and economic harms.21 If you include alcohol as well, this figure leaps to $6.5 billion.22 PRISONS 11,561 11,561 people have gone to prison in the past 10 years for drug offences.17 ½ MENTAL HEALTH More than half the people FAMILY VIOLENCE using mental health services are likely to have substance Alcohol is clearly linked with use problems as well.20 child maltreatment and Among adults with inter-partner violence.18 problematic substance use, 27% experience some form of anxiety and 30% experience some form of depression.3 POVERTY 10% 10% (of those who have ever used drugs) reported drug use had affected their financial position.2 JOBS AND 11% EDUCATION 11% (of those who have ever used drugs) reported harmful MĀORI effects on opportunities for INEQUITY 47% work/study/employment.2 Māori make up about 47% of those in prison for drug offences.19 HOMELESSNESS Substance misuse can increase the chance of becoming and remaining homeless.23

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 07 PRIORITY 1: Reform our laws to treat drug use as a health issue

We all want a happier, healthier, For some, particularly Mäori, more equal New Zealand. a criminal record (and even a prison sentence) can be the result Unfortunately, New Zealand’s of a prosecution for a relatively current drug law stands in the way. minor offence, such as possession The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 of a drug utensil. (MoDA) criminalises those who struggle with their drug use rather THE SOLUTION IS TO TREAT OUR 5 GOALS FOR than supporting them. Every year, DRUG USE AS A HEALTH AND thousands more New Zealanders SOCIAL ISSUE A NEW DRUG LAW are left with a conviction that impacts on mental health, The vast majority of people who use drugs do so without causing harm livelihoods, relationships, Minimise the harms caused to themselves or others. Prosecuting 5 travel, housing and education. by drug use, particularly for them can have a far-reaching negative 1 young people The assumption made in our impact on their lives but has limited 45-year-old legislation is that or no effect on their drug use. The legal sanctions will be a deterrent minority who do struggle with their Respect to use. And yet, our drug use rates drug use need support, compassion 2 human rights remain high. and access to treatment. We can learn from international “Most research has pointed examples such as Portugal, which Safer communities with less drug-related crime towards imprisonment implemented a health approach to 3 having a weak but drug use in 2001. It decriminalised variable general deterrent the use of all drugs and invested heavily in prevention, treatment Promote equity effect, but deterrence may for Māori be even less effective for and harm reduction. Despite fears 4 at the time, harmful drug use in people whose offending Portugal has fallen, and drug harms, 24 is related to drug use.” including overdose deaths, have Be cost-effective and evidence-based reduced dramatically.26 5 Legal penalties compound harms for The Misuse of Drugs Act needs the people who are most impacted by to be replaced with a modern, drug harm. Prohibition discriminates fit-for-purpose drug law that treats against Mäori and Pasifika, who drug use and possession as a health together account for more than and social issue. Commercial supply half of all cannabis convictions in and trafficking of drugs would Aotearoa.25 Convictions also fall remain illegal. disproportionately to young people.

08 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz Whakawātea te Huarahi A model drug law to 2020 and beyond Check out our model drug law Whakawātea te Huarahi for full details on our law reform proposal: nzdrug.org/2017-pathway

'TWEAKING’ THE MISUSE OF Though it is too early to fully assess A NEW LAW WOULD ADDRESS DRUGS ACT HASN’T WORKED the impact of the law change, in the MANY INJUSTICES AND INCONSISTENCIES A new amendment to MoDA, passed 10 months following the amendment, in August 2019, means Police may the number of people facing court In replacing the MoDA 1975 we could only prosecute for possession and action for drug possession decreased achieve these things: use of drugs if it is required in the only slightly. Meanwhile, the total • Remove discrimination against Māori public interest. They must determine number of proceedings (including whether a health-centred or warnings) brought against people Our current law leaves discretion 27 therapeutic approach would be for low-level drug offences went up. in the hands of Police as to whether more beneficial to the public It’s clear this minor fix of MoDA is to prosecute for drug possession, interest than a prosecution. not sufficient. We need a complete resulting in worse outcomes for Mäori. Removing criminal penalties The amendment was introduced as overhaul of our outdated drug laws to for drug use entirely would lead a stop-gap ‘fix’ of MoDA in response bring them into line with international to better outcomes. to the synthetics crisis, and it sent best practice and ensure no one is ever prosecuted for drug use or possession. a clear signal that the Government • Reassess levels at which possession intends to treat drug use as a health of drugs is presumed to be for the and social issue. purposes of supply Overhauling the Misuse of Levels at which a person found Drugs Act would put into effect with a drug is presumed to be in recommendations from the possession for the purposes of Mental Health and Addiction supply are currently set low in MoDA. Supply charges carry a Inquiry,28 the Safe and Effective greater penalty than possession Justice Advisory Group,29 alone. This means that people who the conclusions of the Law are addicted to a substance or use Commission’s 2011 legislative heavily for other reasons can receive review,30 and the current National a conviction for supply, resulting Drug Policy.31 It would also be the in long periods of imprisonment. most effective way to support the wellbeing of all our communities. • Ensure that programmes intended to reduce drug harm can be legally undertaken An example would be drug consumption spaces such as those available in Australia and Canada, which help to reduce overdose and death.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 09 PRIORITY 1: CONTINUED Reform our laws to treat drug use as a health issue

• Reclassify scheduled drugs to • Remove criminal penalties for use WE RECOMMEND: ensure consistency and fairness or possession of a drug utensil Drugs are supposed to be scheduled The Ministry of Health was Replace the Misuse of Drugs Act in accordance with the level of poised to do this several years with a new law that treats drug use danger they pose to the person using ago, with broad political support, and possession as a health issue them, but the classification system but was delayed. to ensure that: no longer accords with what we • discretion is no longer exercised know about the harms caused by • Create consistency between the to Māori disadvantage, because different drugs – including alcohol Psychoactive Substances Act no one ever receives a criminal and tobacco. and the Misuse of Drugs Act conviction for use of drugs We currently have two parallel • • those who need treatment are Review the penalty regime for drug regimes, neither of which achieve able to access it offences to reflect that many of what they set out to do. One single those who deal, do so to support Act could regulate low-harm • programmes to reduce drug harm their own use substances for sale while continuing can be legally undertaken Excessively long sentences - up to provide sanctions for trafficking • drugs are classified consistently to life in prison for supply of more harmful drugs. according to their risk to the user, methamphetamine - do nothing with penalties that are proportional

to deter offending, and are not to other offences. proportional to sentences handed down for other crimes. Therapeutic pathways for those who need them should be included in any penalty regime.

10 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz New Zealanders’ support for cannabis law reform 33% NEITHER 67% PRO-REFORM (35% legislation, 32% decriminalisaton)

Source: NZ Drug Foundation, 201832

WHAT’S NEXT MEDICINAL CANNABIS PATIENTS FOR CANNABIS? NEED URGENT ACCESS TO PRODUCTS

WE RECOMMEND: WE RECOMMEND: Therefore, patients suffering severe and debilitating conditions • Remove criminal penalties • Align our product standards continue to use illegally sourced for growing, using and more closely with our lead products and live in fear of the sharing small quantities of export and import destinations law. Illegally grown plants cannabis. A large majority to bring more products to continue to be destroyed and of New Zealanders support market quickly. medicine confiscated. decriminalisation. • Remove equity barriers It should become easier to produce created by high prices by medicines here and to import them subsidising products. – but so far, no new products have At the recent referendum, been approved. Those that remain New Zealanders narrowly voted • Provide a statutory defence available are expensive and against passing into law a very from prosecution for those inaccessible for most people. specific piece of legislation that who grow plants for their would have allowed cannabis or another’s medicinal use. One just solution would be to to be sold in licensed stores. • Fund education and prescribing provide a statutory defence from The Bill would have enhanced information for doctors. prosecution for those who grow public health and social • Down-classify CBD products plants for their own or another’s justice outcomes, so this from prescription medicines medicinal use, with a medical was disappointing. to reduce prices and make certificate. This could come with a five-year sunset clause to tide Support for cannabis law reform products more available. patients over until products are has grown by 20% in the past legally available. 33 three years alone and will In 2017, the Government continue to increase. The vast introduced legislation to develop Cannabidiol (CBD) products, majority of New Zealanders a medicinal cannabis industry in which are prescription medicines, support either legalisation New Zealand and make products should be reclassified to match or decriminalisation of more accessible. Regulations to other jurisdictions where they are cannabis, giving a clear support the Act came into force treated as pharmacy-only products mandate for law reform. on 1 April 2020. or even dietary supplements. The problems of prohibition have However, products remain Other essential measures include not gone away, and Government inaccessible by the vast majority removing pricing barriers, needs to find a response. In the of New Zealanders who need for example, by subsidising Australian Capital Territory, a them. The cost is excessive products, ensuring ACC adopts recent law change means that because products are not an official protocol about what using cannabis or growing a subsidised. Although cannabis- it will fund and when; and small amount incurs no criminal based medicines can now be streamlining support from WINZ penalties. A similar model could prescribed by a doctor, many so beneficiaries do not have to pay work here as a first step. won’t prescribe due to a lack for expensive medications upfront. of training and understanding of prescribing protocols.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 11 PRIORITY 1: CONTINUED Reform our laws to treat drug use as a health issue

IT’S TIME TO TACKLE ALCOHOL

WE RECOMMEND: Alcohol is cheap, heavily promoted, We also need to invest more into and easy to buy. Alcohol harm understanding the scale of FASD in • Review the Sale and Supply is one of our biggest preventable this country and building capacity of Alcohol Act in line with the public health disasters. to respond to it. There is still no good data on the prevalence of 2010 Law Commission review. A 2010 Law Commission Review FASD in New Zealand, although • Update and fully implement the characterised our alcohol laws as the Ministry of Health estimates action plan Taking Action on the “unbridled commercialisation as many as 3% of births may be Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder: of alcohol”.35 The Commission put affected, at an annual cost of 2016–2019.39 – for example forward a comprehensive suite of much as $450 million.36 Many by investing more into research proposals, warning that “picking other gaps remain to fill from and support. and choosing among the various the Government’s 2016–19 action • Fund behaviour change elements … will lessen the power 35 plan, which has now lapsed. messaging to reach all users, of the package to reduce harm”. and implement a full range of This is exactly what happened. alcohol moderation activities We have made progress on a few (for example as previously run isolated issues, but a comprehensive by the Alcohol Advisory Council. “Alcohol is regulated overhaul of our laws has not yet but is widely available taken place, and alcohol harm remains sky high. and used in our society. It isn’t seen Critical policy solutions proposed by the Law Commission to reduce as a drug and our the harm caused by alcohol include regulation approaches raising the purchase age to 20, to it are inconsistent stricter rules around licensing and fail to deal with and opening hours, imposing the harm it produces.” excise taxes to raise prices and TURUKI! TURUKI! an end to alcohol advertising, FINAL REPORT OF THE SAFE sponsorship and promotions AND EFFECTIVE JUSTICE 29 that increase consumption. ADVISORY GROUP

12 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz THE PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES ACT 2013 CLEAN SLATE LEGISLATION IS STILL NOT WORKING IS TOO NARROW

WE RECOMMEND: The Act was created on the WE RECOMMEND: understanding that a regulated • Review the Act to help it work market is much safer than an • Review the ‘clean slate’ as it was originally intended, unregulated black market where scheme to conceal the allowing low-harm substances profit is the only motive. In a black convictions of those who to be strictly regulated. market, products are not tested, have been prosecuted for and no one is accountable if a • Alternatively, incorporate low-level drug offences, product causes harm or even death. the regulation of low-harm even if they went to prison. substances into a new Misuse Unfortunately, the legislation of Drugs Act – it makes sense was passed very quickly, with A person’s previous convictions to treat all substances under limited public education about are automatically concealed one piece of legislation. its purpose. Some communities from the records where they panicked, and a political decision have had no convictions for the was made to insert a clause past seven years. The scheme When the Act was passed, new banning animal testing of any does not apply to those who substances were being produced so new drugs. This rendered the have been to jail.37 quickly there wasn’t time to make Act unworkable, and no products each illegal before the next was have been approved for sale. This means that the 7,093 developed. Thousands of untested people who have been convicted products were legally on sale, and Tragically, more than 70 and sentenced to prison no one knew their health effects. New Zealanders have died for low-level drug offences using unregulated synthetic in the past decade do not The Act made all psychoactive psychoactive substances since qualify.38 A drug conviction substances illegal by default. 6 mid-20 17. There’s a compelling can negatively impact lives However, if a substance could be argument that regulating low-risk and livelihoods in a way that proven to pose no more than a low substances would steer many is completely out of proportion risk of harm, it could be approved people away from serious harm to the original ‘crime’. for sale under strict regulations. by nudging them towards products that are known to be safer.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 13 PRIORITY 2: Healthy futures for Māori

The NZ Drug Foundation supports Substance use for Māori and Pākehā, 2019/20 Māori communities to respond to 100% the disproportionate harm caused Māori Pākehā to them by both drugs and our drug laws. We work alongside 80% communities to reduce drug harm and support initiatives that help 60% individuals and whānau struggling with drug use. 40%

MĀORI NEED EQUITY IN 20% DRUG-RELATED HEALTH AREAS

Mäori continue to disproportionately 0% feel the burden of drug and Current Past-year Hazardous Past-year alcohol harm. smokers drinkers drinkers cannabis users Mäori are 2.8 times more likely Source: 2019/20 New Zealand Health Survey1 to use tobacco and 2.2 times more likely to use cannabis than non-Mäori. The disparity is greater in women for Long-term solutions to these Building the workforce will require 1 both substances. disparities are set out in Whakamaua, long-term investment and focus. Mäori and non-Mäori have similar the Mäori Health Action Plan,39 Ensuring Mäori lead the development drinking rates, but Mäori are 1.8 times which recommends: and implementation of the action plan process is absolutely essential. more likely than non-Mäori to drink • increasing access to and choice hazardously (in a way that may of kaupapa Mäori primary mental 1 cause harm). health and addiction services • increasing the capacity and capability of the Mäori health sector • expanding access to rongoä Mäori • increasing provider innovation to develop and spread effective kaupapa Mäori and whänau-centred services.

14 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz WHARE TUKUTUKU

As part of a collaboration with Te Rau Ora, we’re helping to develop an approach to workforce development to improve Mäori health outcomes and reduce disparities through an integrated model of prevention. Whare Tukutuku will develop and deliver an addiction workforce development programme for frontline workers, and establishing a national addiction leadership group. The programme aims to support AOD services to develop early interventions in collaboration with Mäori whänau to increase the range of interventions available.

REFORM OUR DRUG LAWS Leaving discretion in the hands of WE RECOMMEND: TO BENEFIT MĀORI AND Police will never provide a solution ADDRESS RACISM for the disproportionate number of • Implement the Health and Disability Unacceptably, our current drug law Mäori entering the criminal justice System Review recommendation produces hugely disproportionate system on drugs charges. We need to to set up a separate Māori imprisonment and conviction rates overhaul the outdated Misuse of Drugs health authority.41 Act, and remove all criminal penalties for Mäori. The result for many can • Implement the actions relating to for low-level drug offences. For this be endless cycles of reconviction. drugs and alcohol from to be a success, Mäori need to be • Mäori make up 49% of those Whakamaua, the Māori Health partners in the development and convicted for drug offences.17 Action Plan, especially by funding implementation of that law. • Among cannabis users, a full range of primary mental Mäori are three times more health and addiction services, likely than non-Mäori to be STRENGTHEN ALCOHOL LAWS led by Māori, for Māori. arrested and convicted for The Law Commission review of our • Follow the recommendations of cannabis-related offences.40 alcohol laws in 2010 recommended He Ara Oranga, and take a stricter a suite of changes to reduce the harm regulatory approach to the sale and Recent changes to the Misuse of Drugs alcohol causes in our communities, supply of alcohol. Replace criminal Act have reduced overall convictions including raising the purchase age sanctions for the use of controlled slightly, but the proportion of Mäori to 20, imposing excise taxes to drugs with a full range of treatment receiving court actions for low-level raise prices and an end to alcohol and detox services. drug offences remains significantly advertising.35 Most of these were higher than it is for non-Mäori.27 never implemented. Of particular concern is the increase As emphasised more recently in in the total number of proceedings the Mental Health and Addiction (including warnings) for Mäori – from Inquiry report He Ara Oranga,28 1,350 in the 10 months before the law we are well overdue for a thorough change to 1,537 for the same period overhaul of our alcohol laws, and after the law change.27 In other words, this would particularly benefit Mäori we’re seeing more involvement with (see page 12 for more on this). the criminal justice system in total, even though fewer of those actions result in a conviction in court.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 15 PRIORITY 3: Strengthen education and keep young people in school

Strengthening health education The Government has recently WE NEED TO KEEP would have lifelong benefits. appointed new ‘wellbeing curriculum YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCHOOL leads’, which is an excellent step. FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE Schools are required to equip students Focus now must be on providing The Statement of National Education with self-management skills and sufficient training for the new leads and Learning Priorities (NELP)45 knowledge about alcohol and drugs. and directing extra funding towards puts learners at the centre of how This is best done as part of the health workforce and resource development. education is provided, and requires curriculum by teaching young people schools to ensure ‘barrier free access’ to think critically and gain the skills to learning. needed to understand themselves and TŪTURU make sense of the world around them. Unfortunately, alcohol and drug use remains one of the most common Although this is part of the reasons to be excluded or expelled New Zealand curriculum, two-thirds from school. The harm caused by of year 8 students are below the exclusion, expulsion and suspension expected achievement level for these is usually far greater than the skills.42 We need to help young people consequences of drug and alcohol catch up with core learning so they use itself. are prepared for a world where alcohol and other drugs exist. Schools are a major protective factor for reducing alcohol and drug harm and improving overall life outcomes, HEALTH AND EDUCATION Tüturu is a school-wide NEED TO WORK TOGETHER approach led by the Drug yet our current school management Foundation that helps to reduce structure places discretion around Schools help young people form drug and alcohol-related harm expulsions and exclusions in the values and build knowledge and and keep students in school. hands of boards of trustees. These skills to prepare them for the modern Different sectors work together are often underequipped to make world. They teach them to think to improve the wellbeing of evidence-based decisions on behalf critically about their wellbeing so their students and develop of students with multiple issues. that they make the best decisions their critical thinking. An for themselves and are able to seek Excluding young people from school independent evaluation of support should they need it. Schools for drug or alcohol use prioritises the the project, co-created with need support to increase the focus on needs of the school before the needs 11 schools and five health wellbeing in their curriculum and to of the learner and impedes access to providers, found Tüturu helped work in a more integrated way with education, missing the objectives of to change how schools deal health services.43 the NELP. We need to help schools with alcohol and other drugs fully implement these new national by changing the focus from education and learning priorities so punitive to pastoral.44 students can be kept in school.

16 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz We recommend removing the power TWO EXAMPLES OF APPROACHES WE RECOMMEND: to exclude students under the age of THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED sixteen from school, and encouraging • Strengthen implementation of schools instead to find more evidence- the health learning area of the based techniques to develop a positive New Zealand curriculum, with culture in the school. It is also training for the new ‘wellbeing essential that dispute resolution leads’ curriculum and extra be made easier for families, as funding towards workforce and recommended by the Tomorrow’s resource development. Schools review.46 This would help • Use evaluated approaches, ensure more young people stay in such as Tūturu to develop whole- school for longer. • Unfold – a challenge-based school approaches that shift the initiative for young people focus from punitive to pastoral. TARGETING PEER CROWDS offering healthy alternatives • Invest more funding into youth to drinking. Multiple agencies services that can work in have worked together to figure While many young people are doing partnership with schools. well, many risk factors cluster in out how to engage a particular group of young people, help • Remove the power to exclude smaller (but identifiable) groupings of them feel like they belong in students under the age of sixteen young people. The Drug Foundation the community and build their from school. works together with a number of other aspirations for a healthy and • Implement the recommendations organisations and agencies to engage successful life. some of these peer groupings and of the Tomorrow’s Schools review. identify approaches that improve • Fund initiatives based on the their wellbeing. cross-sector Peer Crowd Projects. The projects were independently evaluated this year and were found to be effective, with the evaluator stating, “The Peer Crowd Projects are an excellent example of how multiple- partner, cross-sector projects can • 360-empathy tool – an operate successfully, and is arguably immersive video experience that an unusual case in the New Zealand uses virtual reality technology public sector, given the large to help professionals put collection of government and themselves in the shoes of young people. Two-month follow-ups community agencies working found 88% of participants together in a unified way.”47 in a workshop using the tool had changed their practice to improve their engagement with young people as a result. Photo credit: Tobil, pexels.com

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 17 PRIORITY 4: Invest more effectively in prevention, harm reduction and treatment

People should be able to access Of the 8.9% – or roughly 100,000 people who are at risk of problematic a full range of evidence-based people – who experience severe substance use but experiencing only support options for drug and symptoms, only around half receive mild (or no) symptoms. alcohol or other drug support each alcohol use at the time they More investment is needed to reach year,3 meaning that even for people need them. all users. Additionally, the alcohol who are struggling, our services fall moderation campaign has been Unfortunately, this vision is far from well short of what is needed. neglected for many years. The results the current reality. People face long are evident in the high levels of harm waiting lists and struggle to access WE NEED A FOCUS ON we still experience from alcohol. the support they need. BEHAVIOUR CHANGE Shifting to a health approach means The Drug Foundation is the only reorienting funds from justice towards LET’S INTERVENE EARLIER organisation working to develop prevention as well as treatment. As the Mental Health and Addiction health and policy approaches Inquiry report He Ara Oranga28 to prevent harm for the million recommends, we need to focus more on healthy approaches to drugs and alcohol for the whole population, and Anxiety, depression and/or somatic symptoms among people provide support options well before at moderate to high risk of problematic substance use an individual starts to experience serious problems. This is more effective and more compassionate 50 – not to mention cheaper - than waiting to be the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff. 40 1.2 million New Zealanders are estimated to be at moderate to high 30 risk of problematic substance use, according to the New Zealand Health 20 Survey, yet nearly half of those will experience no clear symptoms to 3 10

indicate they may be at risk. When substance use (%) problematic we start the conversation when people are struggling, we miss most of the

Percentage of people at moderate to high risk of to high risk people at moderate of Percentage 0 people we are trying to reach. No Mild Moderate Severe symptoms symptoms symptoms symptoms (scores <5) New Zealand Health Survey 2016-173

18 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz WE CAN MAKE A REAL INVESTMENT SHOULD BE IMPACT BY TARGETING SPREAD ACROSS THESE AREAS: ALL LEVELS OF USE Prevention and education He Ara Oranga recommended increasing the range of mental These appraoches help people health and addiction services who do choose to use drugs to target people at all levels to start later in life, use less of need.28 To be most effective, frequently and experience we need targeted approaches less harm. for each group shown in the diagram below, from those who Harm reduction don’t use drugs at all to those This includes information who are severely dependent. and tools that reduce the risk of drug harm, for example, providing sterile injecting equipment, drug checking at festivals or shorter opening NO CURRENT RECREATIONAL HAZARDOUS MILD MODERATE/SEVERE hours for alcohol retailers. USE USE USE DEPENDENCE DEPENDENCE We'd particularly like to see new funding going into innovative MEDICAL new community programmes and ASSISTANCE, INTENSIVE services targeting people using PROGRAMME drugs or alcohol who would not normally identify themselves as COMMUNITY-LEVEL SUPPORT, COUNSELLING, SUPPORTED needing assistance. WITHDRAWAL, RESPITE CARE Treatment BRIEF INTERVENTION, Effective treatment means a HARM REDUCTION range of options to suit different people – from peer support, HARM MINIMISATION, iwi-based initiatives and SELF-MANAGEMENT AND SELF-CARE one-on-one counselling to more intensive methods like detox EVIDENCED-BASED INFORMATION or residential treatment. AND AWARENESS RAISING

Source: National Committee for Addiction Treatment (NCAT), Shaping the Sector.48

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 19 PRIORITY 4: CONTINUED Invest more effectively in prevention, harm reduction and treatment

INCREASED FUNDING HAS BEEN WE RECOMMEND: WELCOME, BUT SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES CONTINUE • Ensure a stepped increase in The funding increase allocated in treatment sector funding to meet 2019’s Budget has ensured some demand, including specific funding of the existing services that were to respond to ongoing challenges in danger of collapse are now more brought by Covid-19. sustainable. The funding increase • Fund the development of health also made it possible to scale up new approaches that prevent and approaches to treatment that had been reduce harm across the whole piloted within some well-established spectrum of use, not just for services and primary care providers. people experiencing long-term This includes a number of new beds harms from addiction. in addiction treatment facilities, • Build the capacity of communities managed withdrawal services, and frontline providers in health and and peer support. social services to support people Despite these welcome investments, who use drugs. This should include there are still large holes in treatment funding of whānau-led approaches provision across the country, and and kaupapa Māori services. extremely long waiting lists in some • Continue funding alcohol and areas. Many service providers have yet other drug components of the to see any improvements in funding. psychosocial response from People who seek treatment do not Covid-19 (Best Bubble and always get it. This can mean a window Credible Voices). of opportunity is lost to support • Fund behaviour change messaging that person, sometimes forever. to reach all users, and implement Covid-19 has added a new urgency to a full range of alcohol moderation these existing issues, putting stress on activities (for example as previously existing services as people deal with run by the Alcohol Advisory Council. ongoing job and housing insecurity and mental health challenges caused by the pandemic.

20 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz BEST BUBBLE AND CREDIBLE VOICES CAMPAIGNS These two campaigns, begun by the NZ Drug Foundation during the Covid-19 lockdown, reached millions of people across the whole spectrum of alcohol and drug use with information on coping with life in a ‘bubble’. Best Bubble targeted the general population to encourage New Zealanders to re-evaluate their relationship with substances (primarily alcohol) and use new, healthy ways to cope. https://www.bestbubble.co.nz Credible Voices targeted people who use alcohol and other drugs to help them prevent or reduce drug harm. Credible Voices – online

Best Bubble campaign posters

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 21 PRIORITY 5: Reduce drug harm in communities and respond to emerging challenges

Although not using drugs at all is the best option, this is not RESPOND TO METHAMPHETAMINE a realistic reflection of society. HARM IN COMMUNITIES Inevitably, people will take drugs, WE RECOMMEND: Most people who seek help sometimes in harmful ways. for methamphetamine use For those who do, our focus is • Fund regular, in-depth have already been using for 49 on preventing and reducing the research into patterns of 5–10 years . We do not have harm they experience. methamphetamine use in a good overall picture of what methamphetamine use looks like We proactively identify emerging New Zealand. for individuals in New Zealand issues across New Zealand, design • Support home withdrawal before that point. This would innovative solutions and assist and invest in programmes help us reach people earlier and communities to implement them. that focus on community prevent problems escalating. These are some pressing issues responses and peer support. we are working on. • Reform drug laws to treat We know that 1% of methamphetamine use as New Zealanders consumed a health issue and ensure (including people are not put off seeking methamphetamine) in the help due to fear of the law. past year and that rates have increased slightly from 0.7% • Set up a cross-sector response five years ago.1 We also know that includes a focus on that around half of people who treatment, law reform and used stimulants (including other issues relating to methamphetamine) use them methamphetamine (such as 1–2 times a year.2 'contamination’ in houses). However, we do not regularly collect data on who is using methamphetamine, how often and how much, and what harms they experience. We need to understand more about the first years of methamphetamine use, before problems become severe, so that we can personalise health advice and services better.

22 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz CREATE SAFER WORKING ENVIRONMENTS

Heavy methamphetamine use WE RECOMMEND: At best, urine tests can only also has very specific withdrawal confirm if someone used a patterns. Damage to the cognitive • Enact regulations on how drug substance within a certain area of the brain can mean people testing should (and shouldn’t) timeframe. The tests are also have a reduced ability to control be used in the workplace expensive, invade employee their emotions and actions and to better balance safety privacy, and can reduce the predict outcomes for up to a year. requirements with the need likelihood that employees This can make it particularly to protect workers’ rights. will disclose health and safety hard not to relapse. Treatment concerns early. • Invest in the development of services need support (and technology or approaches to Good workplace drug and funding) to adjust their delivery measure impairment. alcohol polices can improve the to ensure they fit around relationship between employer and typical withdrawal patterns • Require all workplaces to have employees, helping people feel safe for methamphetamine and impairment policies. Provide to raise issues as early as possible. can support people in the better guidance for workplaces These policies should focus on longer term. about best practice. reducing impairment, which urine People can also withdraw tests don’t measure. successfully at home with the Over-reliance on urine drug testing In alignment with the Business right support – something as in the workplace, primarily for Leaders’ Health and Safety Forum, simple as self-management cannabis, has created a deceptive the Drug Foundation works with guidance all the way through reassurance that health and safety employers to help them explore to home detox clinical teams. issues related to impairment are their current workplace culture and Providing more support for being addressed. In fact, urine identify ways to minimise the risk home withdrawal will also tests do not measure impairment of impairment in the workplace. help free up residential beds. and only test for a narrow range of substances. To support long-term recovery in the community, we recommend investing in community responses and one:one peer support.50

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 23 PRIORITY 5: CONTINUED Reduce drug harm in communities and respond to emerging challenges

KEEP PEOPLE SAFELY HOUSED

Transitional housing use and acute drug harm are common Confusion around methamphetamine in transitional housing, and reducing ‘contamination’ from use continues to WE RECOMMEND: harms can be challenging. affect vulnerable people.

• Expand Housing First to all By building a strong workforce In January 2021 a new amendment regions so all people have focused on helping this cohort of to the Residential Tenancies Act access to accommodation people and by committing adequate comes into force that allows and help to maintain it. long-term funding to wrap-around regulations to be developed to set services, we can reduce harm in out maximum acceptable levels for • Fund initiatives that reduce temporary housing. methamphetamine ‘contamination’ drug harm in temporary housing. from use and manufacture. Methamphetamine ‘contamination’ This law began its life before the Covid-19 showed us we can safely 2018 report of the PM’s Chief Science WE RECOMMEND: 52 house everyone. Having a safe Advisor on methamphetamine place can give people the space was released. That report found • Ensure new regulations (due to they need to address the trauma no scientific basis for the assertion be drafted in 2021) are framed and insecurity that is so often the that you could contaminate a so people are not unfairly evicted cause of serious drug and alcohol house by using methamphetamine from residential tenancies for problems. (as opposed to manufacturing using methamphetamine. it). To our knowledge, no other Housing First programmes are • Ensure cross-agency countries have standards for an excellent way to address the consistency in how standards methamphetamine contamination underlying causes of homelessness around methamphetamine caused by use of the drug alone. and help people stay in safe ‘contamination’ from use are accommodation in the long term. applied to vulnerable people. The programme currently only “There are no published • Clarify rules for industry in the exists in certain regions and can’t face of ongoing confusion in (or robust, unpublished) be accessed by homeless youth,51 relation to real estate processes data relating to health so extending its reach should be and insurance claims. risks of residing in a a priority. dwelling formerly used The number of people in temporary only for smoking accommodation rose rapidly in methamphetamine.” 2020 following the first Covid-19 52 lockdown. High levels of substance PRIME MINISTER’S CHIEF SCIENCE ADVISOR

24 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz RESPOND TO ONGOING CONCERNS WITH SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS

Ideally, this amendment would More than 70 deaths have been WE RECOMMEND: never have been passed. At the connected to synthetic cannabinoids very least, we must ensure that new • Fund the workstreams identified since mid-2017 and many more regulations currently being drafted set by the Acute Drug Harm New Zealanders have experienced 6 limits for methamphetamine residue Community of Practice, so that serious long-lasting health effects. that to follow the science, not the they can continue to develop While we appear to be past the hype. This will ensure that fewer evidence-based solutions to peak of the crisis, there is some tenants are harmed by the actions of acute drug harm. concern a second wave may fearful landlords and a drug testing • Build capacity to respond to emerge. Anecdotal reports since industry reliant on stoking this fear. emerging harms, including Covid-19 began point to increased Clear and consistent guidance is accessible drug checking clusters of people presenting also needed for industries including services, self-checking options in need of medical attention real estate, insurance and drug (such as swabs that test for from use of synthetics. Harmful checking companies, because the fentanyl), and easy access synthetics have recently been new regulations will only provide to naloxone. found in several regions.56 rules around rental accommodation. • Legalise cannabis, and get The Acute Drug Harm Community More widely, agencies including the Psychoactive Substances of Practice, established by the Drug WINZ, Oranga Tamariki and Police Act working as it should, Foundation, engages a wide range need a consistent approach to to ensure people have access of organisations and agencies to methamphetamine use, focused to safer substances. share learnings and develop their on wellbeing. The new regulations capacity to respond to acute drug will be designed to cover rental harm. They develop public health housing, and using their approach messaging, provide resources to in other situations could lead upskill the workforce, and focus to unintended consequences. on preparing New Zealand to Establishing a cross-agency respond to potential future crises working group to avoid this (from fentanyl, for example). would be a sensible approach.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 25 PRIORITY 5: CONTINUED Reduce drug harm in communities and respond to emerging challenges 52% of people said they wouldn’t take their drug after testing showed it was not what they thought.

KnowYourStuffNZ 2019–2020 testing report53

KEEP OUR ROADS SAFE EXPAND DRUG CHECKING

WE RECOMMEND: An amendment to the Land WE RECOMMEND: Transport Act that will allow • Put more effort, time and money random roadside saliva testing is • Implement the new into roadside testing for alcohol currently before Select Committee. legislation to enable impairment - by far the biggest This law comes before the science drug checking issue on our roads. is ready to back it up. Currently, • Invest in drug checking to • Investigate whether the process there is no robust and affordable ensure anyone who needs for compulsory impairment way to test for drug driving. Saliva it can access the service. testing can be simplified and tests are fraught with issues. used to better effect by Police. Unlike breath tests for alcohol, The Drug Foundation partners • Put funding towards new saliva drug tests can’t measure with KnowYourStuffNZ to methods of detecting whether a person is impaired or not. provide drug checking at impairment, whether that is That means people who have used a festivals and at our offices caused by a legal or an illegal substance but are no longer impaired in Wellington and Auckland. substance or any other cause could be fined and potentially We provide people with accurate (such as tiredness). charged with a drug driving offence. information to help them make • Do not approve the Land The tests can only identify the informed decisions. Transport (Drug Driving) presence of a small number of In December 2020, the Amendment Bill in its current drugs, meaning that those who Government announced new form. The science is not yet are impaired from using other legislation to legalise drug robust enough to back up the substances may be sent on their way. checking – a fantastic step testing process proposed. The science behind the tests is also forward for harm reduction. not yet foolproof, meaning testing The next step will be to will turn in a significant number of upscale the service so that false positives and false negatives, anyone who needs to can undermining faith in the system. access a drug checking Impairment tests carried out on service across the country. the side of the road by Police still The service is currently run remain the best way to establish by volunteers and testing whether a person should be driving equipment is expensive. or not – but these are expensive and require significant training.

26 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz BETTER DATA FOR BETTER SOLUTIONS

WE RECOMMEND: New Zealand collects comprehensive data on drug • Establish a comprehensive offences, but our health statistics package of drug indicators, lag behind. While we measure with a dedicated survey for yearly prevalence rates for most tobacco, alcohol, cannabis drugs, we don’t regularly measure and other drugs. the extent of harmful use, other than for alcohol and tobacco. • Create specific resources for This means, for example, that we HIGH ALERT – A NEW tracking drug use and harms don’t know how many people are ‘EARLY WARNING’ SYSTEM for vulnerable groups, such as struggling with methamphetamine people who are homeless or use or who they are and where After many years pushing for a communities that are struggling they live. Good data can help us cross-sector system that could alert with methamphetamine use. develop the best interventions as people to the emergence of new • As an interim measure, fund well as help us monitor the impact and dangerous substances, or new a repeat of the 2007/08 Drug of changes in drug policy. drug use trends, we were thrilled with Use in New Zealand survey to the launch of High Alert this year. get a better snapshot of what High Alert is led by the National Drug is happening. Intelligence Bureau (made up of Police, Customs and the Ministry of Health) and a range of community and government partners, including the Drug Foundation. When a new drug of concern is identified, High Alert pushes out warnings to their networks and the media. Partnerships like this ensure the system isn’t exclusively focused on health and justice interventions for people experiencing extreme drug harm.

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 27 The work of the Drug Foundation Our work aligns with and builds upon important documents that in context inform Government policy.

PŪRONGO WHAKAMUTUNGA THE REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT WHAKAMAUA: MĀORI HEALTH INQUIRY INTO MENTAL HEALTH AND ACTION PLAN 2020-2025 March 2020 ADDICTION, HE ARA ORANGA July 2020 The final report of the Health and November 2018 Disability System Review41 (also Whakamaua54 guides the 28 known as the Simpson report) took This report highlights the need for implementation of He Korowai a system-wide look at what needs increased investment in addiction Oranga, the Mäori Health Strategy.39 to change to ensure better and more services and the importance of The strategy aims to ensure that equitable health and wellbeing providing interventions earlier – Mäori can exercise their authority to outcomes for all New Zealanders. well before an individual starts improve their health and wellbeing, to experience serious problems. the health system delivers more The report emphasises that The report recommends: equitable outcomes, the system consumers, whänau and communities addresses racism and discrimination must be at the heart of the health • a strict regulatory approach to and mätauranga Mäori is protected. system. Improving equity in outcomes the sale and supply of alcohol is fundamental, and this requires the In the alcohol and drugs space, • replacing criminal sanctions health and disability system to operate that means ensuring more equitable for the possession for personal quite differently. Developing more access to treatment, especially using use of controlled drugs with effective Tiriti-based partnerships treatment models that are led by and civil responses is key. for Mäori. It also means reforming • supporting that law change our drug laws, which discriminate with a full range of treatment badly against Mäori, and ensuring and detox services Mäori can access rongoä such as • establishing clear cross-sector medicinal cannabis. leadership within central government for alcohol and other drug policy.

28 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz TURUKI! TURUKI! YOUTH PLAN 2020–2022 NATIONAL DRUG POLICY 2015 TO 2020. December 2019 July 2020 August 2015 The final report of the Safe and A key action of the Youth Plan55 Effective Justice Advisory Group29 is to increase mental health, addiction This document31 sets out the provides recommendations for a and wellbeing supports for young Government’s approach to alcohol fundamental reshaping of Aotearoa people. Budgets 2019 and 2020 and other drug issues, with the New Zealand’s justice system to provided investment to expand overarching goal of minimising one that prevents harm, addresses access to these supports for all alcohol and other drug harm and its causes and promotes healing young people, but we must maintain promoting and protecting health and and restoration among individuals focus to ensure the goals are met. wellbeing. It promotes people-centred and communities. approaches and harm minimisation. It recognises that drug use concerns It recommends the Government all social sector agencies and should strengthen rules around alcohol be tackled collaboratively. regulation, legalise and regulate the personal use of cannabis and consider doing the same for all drugs. It also recommends treating personal drug use as a health issue with more funding towards prevention, education and treatment. The findings of the report are fully in line with the Drug Foundation kaupapa on drug law reform (see pages 08–13)

“There is a strong case for regulation for the possession, use and social supply of all drugs as well as alcohol.” TURUKI! TURUKI!36

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 29 Who we are

We are a highly skilled and diverse team CONTACT: including academics, health practitioners, Sarah Helm policy advisers and education specialists. Executive Director We work closely with MPs on a range of P 04 801 6303 M 021 075 6533 issues, so please be in touch. E [email protected]

BOARD

Khylee Quince (Chair) Jim Matheson (Deputy Chair) Anna Jacob Julia Amua Whaipooti Senior Lecturer and Associate Education system and organisation Social Intrapreneur at Senior Advisor/Kaitohutohu, Office Head of School at AUT School performance consultant The Southern Initiative of the Children's Commissioner of Law and of Ngāpuhi and and of Ngāti Porou descent Ngāti Porou descent

Mike Munro Patricia Walsh Government relations and Social worker and master’s communications professional student, of Ngāti Porou descent

30 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz CONTACT: Sarah Helm Executive Director P 04 801 6303 M 021 075 6533 E [email protected]

STAFF

Alana Oakly Ben Birks Ang Emily Hughes Eugene Carnachan Kali Mercier Policy Adviser Deputy Executive Director Programme Lead Communications and Policy and Advocacy – Programmes Marketing Adviser Manager

Leah Rothman Melanie Saxton Natalie Bould Philip Glaser Stephen Blyth Programme Lead Programme Lead Communications Adviser Programme Lead Communications Manager

Tom McDonald Tumokai Morgan Office Administrator Programme Lead

Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 31 References

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32 Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 www.drugfoundation.org.nz 34. FASD Working Group. (2016). Taking 44. New Zealand Council for Educational 53. KnowYourStuffNZ. (2020). 2019–2020 action on fetal alcohol spectrum Research. (2020). Tüturu “has testing report. Retrieved from https:// disorder: 2016–2019: An action plan. changed the focus from punitive to knowyourstuff.nz/our-results-2/ Wellington: Ministry of Health. pastoral”: Learnings and outcomes testing-results/testing-reports/2019- from the second year of Tüturu. 2020-testing-report/ 35. Law Commission. (2010). Alcohol Wellington. New Zealand Council for in our lives: Curbing the harm. A 54. Ministry of Health. 2014. The Guide Educational Research. report on the review of the regulatory to He Korowai Oranga: Mäori Health framework for the sale and supply of 45. Ministry of Education (2020). The Strategy 2014. Wellington: Ministry liquor. Wellington: Law Commission. Statement of National Education of Health. and Learning Priorities (NELP) and 36. Ministry of Health. (2020). Fetal 55. Ministry of Youth Development. the Tertiary Education Strategy alcohol spectrum disorder. Retrieved (2020). Youth Plan 2020–2022: (TES). Retrieved from https:// from https://www.health.govt.nz/ Turning voice into action – www.education.govt.nz/our-work/ our-work/diseases-and-conditions/ Rebuilding and recovering. overall-strategies-and-policies/ fetal-alcohol-spectrum-disorder Wellington: Ministry of Youth the-statement-of-national-education- Development. 37. Parliamentary Council Office. and-learning-priorities-nelp-and-the- (2004). Criminal Records (Clean tertiary-education-strategy-tes/ 56. Drug Information and Alert New Slate) Act 2004. Retrieved from Zealand (2020). AMB-FUBINACA 46. Ministry of Education. (2019). http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/ detected. Retrieved November 9, 2020 Supporting all schools to succeed: public/2004/0036/latest/whole.html from https://www.highalert.org.nz/ Reform of the Tomorrow’s Schools alerts-and-notifications/amb-fubinaca- 38. Ministry of Justice. (2020). Drug- system. Wellington: Ministry of detected/ related criminal justice data 2019/20 Education. [data file]. Obtained 21 September 47. Cogo. (2020) New Zealand Peer 2020 from the Ministry of Justice Crowd Projects: Formative evaluation Analytics & Insights Team. report. Auckland: Cogo. 39. Ministry of Health. (2020). 48. National Committee for Addiction Whakamaua: Mäori Health Treatment. (2017). Shaping the sector. Action Plan 2020–2025. Wellington: National Committee for Wellington: Ministry of Health. Addiction Treatment. 40. Fergusson, D. M., Swain-Campbell, 49. Dapaanz. (2018). Annual Member N. R., & Horwood, L. J. (2003). Survey 2018. Wellington: Dapaanz. Arrests and convictions for cannabis related offences in a New Zealand 50. Matua Raki (2010). Interventions birth cohort. Drug and Alcohol and treatment for problematic use Dependence, 70(1), 53–63. of methamphetamine and other -type stimulants. 41. Health and Disability System Review. Wellington: Ministry of Health. (2020). Health and Disability System Review – Final Report – Pürongo 51. Radio New Zealand. (2020). Homeless Whakamutunga. Wellington: HDSR. youth 'not able to get the support they need’. Retrieved from https://www. 42. Educational Assessment Research rnz.co.nz/news/national/428193/ Unit. (2018). National Monitoring homeless-youth-not-able-to-get-the- Study of Student Achievement Report support-they-need 16: Health and Physical Education 2017 – Key Findings. Educational 52. Office of the Prime Minister’s Assessment Research Unit, University Chief Science Advisor. (2018). of Otago and New Zealand Council Methamphetamine contamination for Educational Research. in residential properties: Exposures, risk levels, and interpretation of 43. Ministry of Education. (2020). standards. Retrieved from https:// New Curriculum Leads signal www.pmcsa.org.nz/wp-content/ start of more focused approach to uploads/Methamphetamine- wellbeing. Retrieved from https:// contamination-in-residential- www.education.govt.nz/news/new- properties.pdf curriculum-leads-signal-start-of-more- focused-approach-to-wellbeing/

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Briefing to the Incoming Parliament| December 2020 33 Take advantage of our resources Our mission is to be the catalyst for people, their communities, service providers and policy makers to take action that prevents drug harm.

. Mattersof Substance october 2017 Volume 28 Issue No.3 www.drugfoundation.org.nz

www.drugfoundation.org.nz Issue No.1 Volume 28 . Mattersof Substance march 2017

How to stay in control

We should have known

Pounding a The recent extraordinary spate of 20 deaths linked with synthetic cannabinoid helpful beat use could have been avoided. The warning signs were there, but who was listening? Police and others at the front line are offering support, something that is being well received. How can we get more?

METHHELP, DRUGHELP, POTHELP LIVING SOBER MATTERS OF SUBSTANCE These online and hard copy resources A vibrant online community for Our online magazine is one way offer hope, motivation and useful tools people struggling with their alcohol use. we share the best evidence on drug to support change for people who are Over 5,000 members use it to share policy and practice. A mix of articles, ready to reduce or quit using drugs. wisdom, kindness, encouragement candid interviews and compelling and understanding. personal stories. https://livingsober.org.nz/ https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/ matters-of-substance/

TŪTURU HARM REDUCTION INFORMATION DID YOU KNOW? Our whole-schools approach Tüturu Mini pocket cards offer harm reduction A series of youth-friendly resources (see page 16), brings health services and advice for young people. with facts about different drugs, schools together to ensure rangatahi including advice for adults to have learn the skills they need to make good safe conversations with young people choices. The resource hub includes a about drug use and harm reduction. wealth of resources for teachers, Videos in Te Reo Mäori and English principals and services. and posters in Te Reo Mäori, English, Chinese, Samoan and Tongan. https://www.tuturu.org.nz

Order these and other resources at https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/resources/

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