Call for public inquiry into speed use after UN report

12.30pm

The Government should convene a Commission of Inquiry into methamphetamine use and its threat to New Zealanders, the Police Association said today.

The call came after the release of a United Nations survey on global amphetamine and ecstasy use, showing New Zealand and Australia's proportion of abusers was high.

"Every police officer, social worker and other professional dealing with social problems is well aware of the extent of the problem," the association's president Greg O'Connor said.

He said the association had been warning of rising methamphetamine abuse for eight years.

"The problem is increasing markedly on a monthly basis.

"We now believe a public Commission of Inquiry, to ensure all aspects of the methamphetamine problem, including the growth of organised crime that accompanies it, is essential.

"Such an inquiry should be focused on making recommendations around legislation, resourcing and establishing early warning systems to detect future drug threats in New Zealand," Mr O'Connor said in a statement.

The Police Association had written to Prime Minister Helen Clark requesting such an inquiry.

The UN survey said New Zealand and Australia were second only to Thailand on the percentage of the population using methamphetamine.

It was reported 3.7 per cent of the population of New Zealand and Australia abused the drug.

Australia was also a world leader on ecstasy abuse, with 2.9 per cent of its population abusing the drug.

New Zealand was not far behind on 2.3 per cent.

- NZPA

New Zealand has among highest drug abuse rates in world

The Ecstasy and Amphetamines Global Survey 2003

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Herald Feature: The P epidemic