Tackling P
Hon John Key
All of you will have heard stories about the dangerous and addictive drug P. Some of you will have family members or friends who have struggled, or who are still struggling with it.
The drug is hugely damaging to those who take it and the people who share their lives. It comes hand in hand with violence. It allows gangs and organised crime to flourish. It entices young people into crime.
The National-led Government is committed to using every tool we have to fight P use. Last week, I outlined our plan to do this.
Firstly, we're going to make it harder for people to manufacture P by controlling the availability of precursor chemicals.
The main precursor - pseudoephedrine - can be bought over the pharmacy counter in a range of cold and flu medications. Up to a third of P labs busted by police each year have used cold and flu medication.
There's a clinically safe alternative for cold and flu relief - phenylephrine. It's already used in up to three quarters of our cold and flu medications, and can be bought over the counter. That's why we're making pseudoephedrine prescription only.
Secondly, we're coming down on gangs and organised crime syndicates who peddle P for a business.
Customs is establishing dedicated anti-drug taskforces aimed at increasing seizures of P and its precursors at the border. Police will have more tools at their disposal than ever before, and they will take profits of these criminals and use them to fund anti-P initiatives.
Thirdly, we're committed to reducing demand for P, helping addicts quit and deterring new users.
We'll make treatment available for more than 3000 extra patients over the next three years. We're expanding specialist services where addicts can get the immediate support they need, and follow-up services to help them stay off the drug.
Police and the Courts have the power to divert users into treatment. We're also making sure frontline staff in government agencies know how to provide P users with information and support. Most importantly, we'll help families and doctors get addicts into treatment.
Fourthly, we'll help our schools, whänau, clubs, and businesses to support addicts and deter new users. We'll work with voluntary organisations, promote new drug guidelines for schools, and direct community programmes to focus on tackling P.
Finally, we'll make government chief executives accountable for getting results.
National is tackling P from all directions. We're cracking down on precursors, breaking supply chains, providing better routes into treatment, supporting families and communities, and strengthening leadership and accountability.
This will make a difference for hundreds of families and make our community safer.
