It’s time to shout What would Jesus decriminalise Pot’s potency probed Smoke-free sentences November 2010 The drugs of war Historically, drug use by personnel has been an issue in almost every army. With the US and its allies currently fighting in a number of theatres where narcotics abound, drug abuse by soldiers is on the increase. How prepared is the military to deal with the fallout, both internationally and here in New Zealand? Contents matters of substance November 2010 Features Regulars Vol 20 No 4 ISSN 1177-200X 02 Cover Story 01 The Director’s Cut 33 Mythbusters matters of substance is published by the War and drugs Executive Director Ross Bell Cannabis potency NZ Drug Foundation. All rights reserved. Neither this publication nor any part considers public response Police and the media say of it may be reproduced without prior to proposed liquor law ESR tests conducted this permission of the NZ Drug Foundation. changes, and argues there year prove cannabis in is real opportunity to move New Zealand has become matters of substance invites feedback the government further. a whole lot stronger. But and contributions. If you’re interested in contributing a guest editorial or article, just what did these tests please contact us: 18 Guest Editorial examine, and what do the [email protected] Today, more than ever, Compulsory treatment results really mean? p +64 4 801 6303 armies around the world Dutch style are dealing with serious Brand development/graphic design Origin Design +64 4 801 6644 substance abuse problems News [email protected] and the mental health issues www.origindesign.co.nz that result. New Zealand is 01 Key Events and Dates no exception. NZ Drug Foundation A list of coming conferences 3rd Floor, 111 Dixon Street 12 It’s your turn to shout and events to help keep you PO Box 3082, Wellington, New Zealand stimulated and engaged. p +64 4 801 6303 The government has Treatment boss Robert released its response to the Steenhuisen takes a firsthand 28 New Zealand News When you have finished with Law Commission’s liquor look at a compulsory this magazine, please recycle it. law review. While there are treatment facility in the undoubtedly some positives, Netherlands and makes most believe the proposed some comparisons with Become a member reforms do not go far enough. New Zealand. The NZ Drug Foundation has been 14 Smoking bans in prisons 22 Viewpoints at the heart of major alcohol and – do they work? Liquor licensing other drug policy debates for over An assortment of interesting 20 years. During that time, we have exemptions for Police bars demonstrated a strong commitment The truth may be out there, and recent home-grown to advocating policies and practices but it’s not always clear cut. news excerpts. based on the best evidence available. This is the first in a new World News regular segment looking 31 You can help us. A key strength of the objectively at both sides of NZ Drug Foundation lies in its diverse membership base. As a member of the a contentious issue. Should NZ Drug Foundation, you will receive Midway through next year, Police bars be exempt from information about major alcohol and there will be a ban on licensing laws? You decide. other drug policy challenges. You can also smoking behind bars, but get involved in our work to find solutions 24 Opinion to those challenges. there is considerable debate over how effective this will Why marijuana Our membership includes health be and over whether the decriminalisation should We’ve trawled the world’s promoters, primary health and ban is solely motivated by be a Christian issue headlines to bring you the community organisations, researchers, health concerns. latest drug and alcohol students, schools and boards of trustees, news from abroad. policy makers, and addiction treatment agencies and workers. 26 A volatile issue Quotes of Substance Membership and subscription enquiries Here’s a round-up [email protected] of drug-related or visit our website. pronouncements, ranging America locks away a full from the pithy to the www.drugfoundation.org.nz 1 percent of its population profound to the – many as a result of the preposterous. Two years on, the Drug war on drugs. James Clark Foundation’s Volatile contends this approach Substances resource is still lacks Christian love and valuable – empowering compassion. retailers and community organisations alike. matters of substance November 10 www.drugfoundation.org.nz The Director’s Cut Key Events and Dates 8th Dangerous Consumptions Young people, risk and resilience: Colloquium The challenges of alcohol, drugs 2–3 December, Canberra, Australia and violence conference The Dangerous Consumptions 7–8 March 2011, Melbourne, Australia Colloquium is a forum for the Young people who use alcohol and presentation and discussion of other drugs are more likely to research on the myriad forms of participate in high-risk activities, contemporary dangerous consumption including violent and traumatic from a social research perspective. incidents such as assaults and www.adca.org.au committing crimes leading to early LEGISLATION THAT will see include some neat features. involvement in the criminal justice system. Effective interventions and the most significant changes One is that licensing fees Feb Fast February 2011, Nationwide approaches will be discussed to to New Zealand’s liquor laws could be higher for pubs that prevent harm towards young people. An alcohol awareness campaign born in 20 years was introduced cause the most trouble, which in Australia now arriving in New Zealand www.aic.gov.au into Parliament this month. could be a very powerful tool for the first time. Feb Fast challenges ordinary New Zealanders to forgo Harm Reduction 2011 Conference Predictably there have in the hands of a smart local their alcohol consumption and at the 3–7 April 2011, Beirut, Lebanon been two extreme reactions council. same time raise funds to support The International Harm Reduction to the Government’s bill. Also, far from picking on programmes helping to reduce conference has become the key alcohol and other drug-related forum worldwide for the dissemination Colleagues from the health the hospitality industry, there sector poured great scorn on harms amongst young people. of harm reduction ideas and practice are some real benefits for good www.febfast.org.nz and has helped put harm reduction the Government’s response to operators. Those who provide on the map. Sir Geoffrey Palmer’s historic responsible host environments, 2nd Sport and Alcohol www.ihra.net liquor review, dismissing the Conference: Finding the Balance for example, will have fewer bill as doing nothing to 9–11 February 2011, Auckland 6th International Conference tough conditions on their change New Zealand’s heavy The relationship between sport and on Drugs and Young People alcohol will be examined. Those 2–4 May, Melbourne, Australia drinking culture. licences, and fewer visits from Police. The proposals interested will include health Themed ‘Making the Connections’, Liquor and hospitality educators, programme initiators, the conference will examine the industry talking heads thus offer real incentives for national sporting organisation complexity and interaction of factors accused the Government of license holders to genuinely representatives, academics, that influence young people’s lives provide safe and supervised government bodies and athletes. and will celebrate the role young unnecessarily targeting them, www.sportandalcohol.com people play in addressing harm. saying the focus shouldn’t be venues for people wanting www.adf.org.au on their practices, but on good times. individual drinkers. As for Government claims Based on these responses, of finding balance? In its the Government has calculated effort to avoid pissing off the it has struck a perfect balance. New Zealand drinker (read: All three positions are voter), our leaders, sadly, wrong. have not used the most 4th International Conference on Far from doing nothing, important levers of pricing Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Youth Week the Government has and marketing controls to 2–5 March 2011, Vancouver, Canada 21–29 May 2011, Nationwide surprisingly adopted the influence the drinking The conference will provide an Youth Week 2011 will be held once vast majority of Sir Geoffrey’s advanced forum for emerging and again in the last week of May. Youth environment. In these two cutting-edge research policy and 153 recommendations. Of Week 2011 is a 9-day week so more areas they must go further, practice that will assist governments’ weekend days are available for Youth particular importance are the and we’ll be putting our service systems, service providers Week fun! proposals reforming liquor and parents and caregivers. efforts into encouraging this. www.youthweek.org.nz licensing administration and www.interprofessional.ubc.ca Minister Simon Power has decision-making, especially Hosting a key event? said the bill “should be seen School of Addiction 2011 those providing communities Promote it online at as Parliament’s starting point 3–5 March 2011, Auckland www.drugfoundation.org.nz/events greater input into decisions that Convened by the Drug and Alcohol affect their neighbourhoods for alcohol reform”. Read this Practitioners Association, the School – the Government has rightly as a signal that the door is still of Addiction will provide skill-based open on pricing and marketing, workshops on clinical supervision, listened to those who marched gambling and smoking cessation. on the streets demanding and possibly even more. This is a ‘must attend’ training a voice. The Government is opportunity for experienced practitioners. The Government’s listening. Make sure they www.dapaanz.org.nz licensing proposals could hear your voice – loud! be improved, but they do Happy reading, Ross Bell. www.drugfoundation.org.nz matters of substance November 10 01 Cover Story Specialist Jeremy Morlock is charged with premeditated murder in the deaths of three Afghan civilians.