When the Crowd Goes Wild Come September and the Rugby World Cup, All Eyes Will Be on New Zealand
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Disorder south of the border What should we make of ibogaine? The costs of global drug control ‘Real world’ ecstasy May 2011 When the crowd goes wild Come September and the Rugby World Cup, all eyes will be on New Zealand. Will the focus remain on world-class standards of sporting excellence, or will our drunken crowds put on a show of their own? Some say high ticket prices and our cultural love for the game will ensure we mind our manners, but recent behaviour and controversial alcohol management policies have left some organisers feeling nervous. Contents matters of substance May 2011 Features Vol 21 No 2 ISSN 1177-200X 02 Cover Story evidence-based alternatives could re-establish matters of substance is published by the to help keep these kids in New Zealand as a world NZ Drug Foundation. All rights reserved. When the crowd goes wild school. leader in tobacco control. Neither this publication nor any part of it may be reproduced without prior permission of the NZ Drug Foundation. 26 The fabulous FebFast 24 Viewpoints Should ibogaine be an matters of substance invites feedback approved drug treatment? and contributions. If you’re interested in contributing a guest editorial or article, In our third segment looking please contact us: objectively at both sides of [email protected] a contentious issue, we Managing the madding p +64 4 801 6303 consider whether ibogaine, crowd which some say is the new Brand development/graphic design The 2011 Rugby World Cup With hundreds of teams wonder drug, should be Origin Design +64 4 801 6644 will roll out over seven [email protected] and individuals taking part, approved as a treatment for www.origindesign.co.nz weekends starting early the Drug Foundation’s withdrawal and dependence. September. Given inaugural FebFast fundraiser NZ Drug Foundation New Zealand’s recent track has been a wonderful success 33 Mythbusters 3rd Floor, 111 Dixon Street record with booze-fuelled that bodes well for the future. Can you have too much PO Box 3082, Wellington, New Zealand crowds, what will be done to p +64 4 801 6303 of a feel-good thing? manage alcohol consumption There have been a number and will it be enough? Regulars When you have finished with of recent studies into the this magazine, please recycle it. harmfulness or otherwise Interview with Steve Walsh 01 The Director’s Cut of recreational ecstasy Steve Walsh was dumped The Law Commission has use, and indications are as an international rugby Become a member made 144 recommendations it may not be as bad as ref in 2009 as a result of to government for drug law once thought. The NZ Drug Foundation has been alcohol-fuelled bad behaviour. reform. Ross Bell explains at the heart of major alcohol and When he takes the field at why the government must other drug policy debates for over this year’s Rugby World adopt them all. News 20 years. During that time, we have Cup, he’ll be back at the demonstrated a strong commitment peak of his game. to advocating policies and practices 17 Guest Editorial 01 Key Events and Dates based on the best evidence available. 12 Mexico’s losing battle Keep abreast of what’s coming up on the alcohol You can help us. A key strength of the Mexican authorities are and other drugs calendar – NZ Drug Foundation lies in its diverse losing the ‘war on drugs’, both here and around membership base. As a member of the writes Hamish McKenzie. NZ Drug Foundation, you will receive the world. information about major alcohol and The corruption, the chaos other drug policy challenges. You can also and the killings continue, 28 New Zealand News get involved in our work to find solutions and while current policies Time to count the costs We’ve gathered a wide and to those challenges. persist, there seems little of the war on drugs varied selection of recent hope they will come to an Our membership includes health Despite good intentions, drug-related news that’s end any time soon. promoters, primary health and the ‘war on drugs’ has had close to home. community organisations, researchers, numerous negative students, schools and boards of trustees, 21 More cool to stay at school 30 World News policy makers, and addiction treatment consequences, says Steve agencies and workers. Rolles. Now a new web-based Here’s the latest summary project has been launched of what’s been making the Membership and subscription enquiries by a group of organisations news on the international [email protected] keen to force a rethink on drugs and alcohol stage. or visit our website. global drug control policy. Quotes of Substance www.drugfoundation.org.nz 19 Opinion Schools often believe they Whether they’re well informed, misinformed or have no other option but to Our smokefree future just plain uninformed, expel or suspend students We’ve set ourselves the people keep saying things using alcohol or drugs, even ambitious goal of becoming about drugs, and we keep though exclusion will only smokefree by 2025. It’s a recording them here. make the situation worse. move that should have the Now a number of CAYADs industry worried, argues are working to develop Ben Youdan, and one that matters of substance May 11 www.drugfoundation.org.nz The Director’s Cut Key Events and Dates Australian Winter School training and education, consumers, Conference service management and delivery 9–10 June, Surfers Paradise, Australia to facilitate professional networking. Concurrent Disorders: Current www.matuaraki.org.nz Discourses is the theme for this conference, which will increase Public Health Association levels of knowledge and professional Conference skills, present the most recent 31 August–2 September, research and demonstrate its Christchurch relevance to those working in the The PHA conference has three The ink was barely dry on In this regard, the Law alcohol and other drugs field. The themes: vision, sustainability and Australian Winter School also has the Law Commission’s Commission, in 2011, has diversity. They aim to explore our an intersectional focus to enhance vision for our future, solutions we Controlling and Regulating come to the same conclusion networking and cross-disciplines can find today that will help protect Drugs report when critics as the Blake-Palmer Policy understanding. further generations, how we can www.winterschool.info build community resiliency and began the ritual wailing and Review 1968–1973 which how we can positively embrace gnashing of teeth about it said, “There are kinder and Drug and Alcohol Nurses our diversity. being “soft on drugs.” more effective methods than of Australasia Conference www.pha.org.nz 15–17 June, Melbourne, Australia The responses from the reliance on criminal law Sensible Sentencing Trust The 2011 DANA conference theme Cutting Edge alone to deal with the misuse is Exploring the Frontiers of Drug and Family First were 1–3 September, Auckland of drugs.” and Alcohol Nursing. This theme Cutting Edge is the national addiction predictable, but avoidable. explains the wide variety of A health-focussed law treatment sector conference covering Media outlets giving airtime healthcare settings in which alcohol alcohol, other drugs, problem does not equate to a “soft” drug and drug nurses work. to these so-called “experts” gambling and smoking cessation. law. The Law Commission www.danaconference.com.au The conference theme is Recovery (neither lobby group having clearly states: “We have not and Wellbeing. any track record in evidence- 6th International AIDS www.cuttingedge2011.org.nz based drug policy) was suggested any dilution of Society (IAS) Conference on extremely unfortunate. One New Zealand’s prohibition HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment International Federation of approach… Nor should we and Prevention Non-Government Organisations newspaper even published a 17–20 July, Rome, Italy wish to. We believe that there Conference story about the Commission’s This is the world’s largest open 8–11 November, Kuala Lumpur, proposal to decriminalise must continue to be vigorous scientific conference on HIV/AIDS. Malaysia cannabis – a recommendation law enforcement focus Held every 2 years, the conference The theme of the conference is attracts about 5,000 delegates from Strength, Unity and Diversity: Time that was nowhere to be found on large scale commercial all over the world to help examine, for an International Voice for NGOs. in their report. Had these people dealing, backed up by strong explore and inform the global The conference will provide a forum actually read the report? penalties.” Nothing soft response to HIV/AIDS. for decision makers and professionals www.ias2011.org Sadly, drug policy debates to gain an understanding of NGO about that. issues and needs in relation to in New Zealand descend too The Law Commission does International Drugs and addressing alcohol and other drug quickly into dogmatic rants articulate a clear way forward, Driving Symposium use and associated harm. There will about ‘soft’ versus ‘hard’ drug 17–18 July, Montreal, Canada be a particular focus on the Asian especially for a new regulatory and Pacific regions. policy, with little in the way This 2-day symposium to discuss approach to so-called “legal drugs and driving is an international www.ifngoconference.org of analysis or fact informing highs” and a mandatory first. The use of drugs has long been considered a major social problem. those debates. diversion scheme for lower The Australasian Professional The report includes 144 However, the acute and devastating Society on Alcohol and Other level drug offending. Here the consequences of drugged driving Drugs 2011 Conference recommendations for law Law Commission simply have only recently come to the 13–16 November, Hobart, Australia reform, the most significant forefront of public attention.