Calls to consider Aussie anti-P project

The Government is under pressure to use an Australian tool that tracks drug precursors to stifle P projection. Photo / Martin Sykes

The Government is being urged to adopt an award-winning Australian initiative to help stem methamphetamine use in the country.

The Pharmacy Guild said introducing Queensland's Project Stop into New Zealand pharmacies would help stifle methamphetamine, or P, production.

Project Stop is an online tool used to track sales of pseudoephedrine, the key ingredient in making P, which was found in products to treat the symptoms of cold and flu.

The voluntary system records details of people buying those medicines and alerts police when a person tries to make multiple purchases at different pharmacies.

The guild said it made it difficult for "pseudo-runners" - people who go from pharmacy to pharmacy buying pseudoephedrine-based products - from accumulating enough to manufacture a significant amount of P.

"As frontline health professionals, pharmacists see first hand the devastating effects of the drug P on New Zealand communities," guild chief executive Annabel Young said.

"Pharmacists want to play their part in curbing the abuse of this horrendous drug."

Project Stop would also give pharmacists the ability to sell the medicines to legitimate buyers without concern, she said.

According Australia's Pharmacy Guild, Project Stop has contributed to a 23 per cent decrease in the number of clandestine drug laboratories and has helped in 30 arrests in Queensland.

During their successful election campaign, National promised to clamp down on P, which it described as a "scourge" on society.

The former Labour-led government had been considering Project Stop .

Shortly after National won the election last October, Police Minister Judith Collins said she would wait on a police report due in March before making a decision on the project.

This morning Ms Collins was not available for comment.

- NZPA