Through the Maze – Healthy Drug Law Reform the Misuse of Drugs Act Was Drafted in 1975 When the Way We Understood Drugs Was Very Different

The pain and the poor Dealing with dealers Twenty candles Horsing around with Special K February 2009 Through the maze – healthy drug law reform The Misuse of Drugs Act was drafted in 1975 when the way we understood drugs was very different. With this year’s review, we can bring our drug law in line with modern knowledge and current public health policy objectives. Contents matters of substance February 2009 Features Vol 19 No 1 ISSN 1177-200X 02 Cover story 21 Let’s talk about pot 14 Opinion matters of substance is published by the Enforcing to reduce harm Through the maze – Beyond the cannabis NZ Drug Foundation. All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part healthy drug law reform stalemate of it may be reproduced without prior A Global Cannabis permission of the NZ Drug Foundation. Commission report claims most harms matters of substance invites feedback and contributions. If you’re interested in around cannabis actually contributing a guest editorial or article, result from prohibition. please first contact us: [email protected] Will the United Nations p +64 4 801 6303 heed the call to consider David Blakey argues that some radical alternatives? The Law Commission’s intelligent and adaptable Brand development/graphic design law enforcement policy can Origin Design +64 4 801 6644 review of the Misuse of 24 Alternative development play a role in minimising [email protected] Drugs Act cannot come www.origindesign.co.nz in the Golden Triangle – drug-related harms. soon enough. The Drug reality or myth? Foundation has some ideas NZ Drug Foundation 33 Mythbusters 3rd Floor, 111 Dixon Street about how a new Act should Ketamine: not just for PO Box 3082, Wellington, New Zealand look, based on 30 years of horses, also for badgers p +64 4 801 6303 experience and evidence. The media’s delight in describing ketamine as a When you have finished with 12 Sentencing for drug crime this magazine, please recycle it. horse tranquiliser is doing nothing to help convey a clear understanding of Become a member Opium cultivation in relative drug harm. The NZ Drug Foundation has been Burma, Laos and Thailand at the heart of major alcohol and is reportedly in decline, News other drug policy debates for over but the Transnational 18 years. During that time, we have Institute argues 29 New Zealand News demonstrated a strong commitment What could be a worse mismanaged bans have to advocating policies and practices Sport, drugs and alcohol, based on the best evidence available. crime than dealing drugs? cost local farmers dearly. and getting tough on P – Not much, according to our these and other stories You can help us. A key strength of the criminal justice system. 27 Something for the pain feature in our round up NZ Drug Foundation lies in its diverse The western world spends of drug news on the membership base. As a member of the 16 Twenty years young NZ Drug Foundation, you will receive billions trying to prevent home front. information about major alcohol and We look back on some of illicit opioid use. Meanwhile, other drug policy challenges. You can also 31 World News the controversy at the time scant thought is given to get involved in our work to find solutions Drug courts work, but to those challenges. of the Drug Foundation’s the suffering left without institution and trace our pain relief in developing anti-drug ads fail. And guess what: meth, booze and Our membership includes health history in headlines and countries. promoters, primary health and quotes. ecstasy are bad for the body. community organisations, researchers, students, schools and boards of trustees, 01 Key Events and Dates policy makers, and addiction treatment 18 Down but not out – the Regulars agencies and workers. findings of Youth’07 We provide a list of coming alcohol and other drug 01 The Director’s Cut Membership and subscription enquiries happenings to help fill [email protected] Ross Bell argues that your new diary. or visit our website. progressive drug law reform is needed to reduce barriers Quotes of Substance www.drugfoundation.org.nz to people needing help. Some things said about drugs are insightful, 20 Guest Editorial some are insane, and New Zealand young people On the RISE for youth some are inexcusable. are happier. They’re using Caitlin Padgett introduces less cannabis and saying no Youth RISE – an advocacy to cigarettes, but not all the group for the rights of news is good. young drug users worldwide. matters of substance February 09 www.drugfoundation.org.nz The Director’s Cut Key Events and Dates 3rd International Conference Outside In: Community of the International Society for Responses to Complex and the Study of Drug Policy Diverse Needs 2–3 March, Vienna, Austria 6–8 May, Sydney This conference, hosted by the Today’s community service providers United Nations Office on Drugs acknowledge there are co-existing and Crime, should be of interest to problems for many people accessing a wide array of disciplines including services. This conference will help anthropology, economics, explore innovative and creative epidemiology, political science, community sector approaches that “This HAS never, ever worked, Our cover story argues that public health and sociology. will provide meaningful responses to people’s diverse needs. so let’s keep on doing it.” New Zealand’s obsolete drug www.issdp.org www.nada.org.au Why do we expect that law must be reformed so that School of Addiction 2009 one of the most complex it can complement the more 4–6 March, Auckland Working Together Conference social and health issues can balanced National Drug Policy. The biennial school, jointly hosted by 14–15 May, Wellington be solved through tough We argue that a health-based DAPAANZ and the Pacific Centre for Be part of the gathering momentum action by Police, the courts drug law would respect Motivation and Change, is offered to to reduce the harm of alcohol in our and prisons? The faith many human rights, including the experienced clinicians and practitioners communities. Come and share your in the field of addiction treatment. stories, highlight progress you’re have in the criminal justice right of people to equal access www.matuaraki.org.nz making and learn from others. ALAC system to fix social ills is to health services. It would is currently seeking presentation misplaced. Indeed, the system reduce the barriers that 3rd International Conference abstracts. itself can be the cause of some currently stop people seeking on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum www.alac.org.nz of those ills. help for drug-related Disorder 2009 Getting ‘tough on drugs’ problems and make it easier 11–14 March, Victoria, BC, Canada Youth Week 22–31 May or fighting the ‘war on drugs’ for them to access services This conference will be a catalyst doesn’t create communities for change around the globe by Start planning now to get involved. such as harm reduction Keep an eye on the website for free from drug harm. integrating research and policy into programmes or treatment. practice to assist governments, updates. We need to understand Do not be mistaken. This parents, services and caregivers www.youthweek.co.nz that the social and health is not a debate about ‘hard’ who strive to prevent FASD. harms from drugs can only www.interprofessional.ubc.ca versus ‘soft’ drug law. Recent be addressed through humane World Health Organisation social and health policies and 1st Conference of the research illustrated that “drug interventions. We do them a Connections Project use is not simply related to 25–27 March, Krakow, Poland disservice when we demand drug policy, since countries Joining the Dots: Criminal Justice, Customs, cops and courts to with more stringent policies Treatment and Harm Reduction will fix the problems created by towards illegal drug use did aim to facilitate the development social exclusion, poverty, of knowledge and an evidence base not have lower levels of such the human condition and for how different harm reduction drug use than countries with even genetics. They are and drug free interventions can be more liberal policies.” incorporated across criminal justice simply not equipped or processes. Instead, we hope that, World Smokefree Day qualified to do this – yet this www.connectionsproject.eu 31 May is where we invest our as New Zealand reviews its domestic drug law, and as www.worldsmokefreeday.org.nz energies and resources. International Harm Reduction In Australia (we don’t the international community Association Conference 2009 International Day against Illicit reviews global drug control, 20–23 April, Bangkok, Thailand have New Zealand data, but Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking we need to be open to new The conference theme is Harm confidently assume it will 26 June Reduction and Human Rights. be comparable), 57 percent approaches, informed by With this campaign, UNODC aims the best evidence, and be Asia has been consciously chosen to of expenditure on illicit host the conference based on many to raise awareness of the major drug policy goes to law prepared to challenge countries in that region failing to problem that illicit drugs represent to society. enforcement, with only 23 previously held tenets. provide vital health and harm www.unodc.org/unodc/en/ percent to prevention efforts, David Cameron, UK’s reduction services to which drug users are entitled. about-unodc/26-June.html 17 percent to treatment Conservative Party Leader, www.ihra.net services and 3 percent to has lamented, “If one takes a 2009 Cutting Edge: harm reduction initiatives. slightly progressive – or, as I Our place, our future Acknowledging there is still like to think of it, thoughtful 10–12 September, Wellington debate about the best mix – view [of drug control], one www.dapaanz.org.nz of investment, it’s safe to can sometimes be accused say we have a long way to of being soft.

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