KEY POINTS:
A survey of regular drug users has found consumption of methamphetamine among the middle class may be on the decline because of its links to addiction and violence.
The suggestion was from middle-class users of Ecstasy, who told researchers that fewer people they knew were using methamphetamine.
However, there was evidence that methamphetamine use overall was increasing, according to the Illicit Drug Monitoring System, a regular survey of 318 frequent drug users.
The drug was easy to obtain in both its locally made form, commonly known as P, and imported "crystal" methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine continued to be a serious problem, with most users describing it as easy or very easy to obtain, said researchers from Massey University's Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation. The results of the centre's 2006 survey, released yesterday, found the price of methamphetamine was stable at $100/point (0.1g).
The Class A drug has been in the spotlight recently with court cases involving high-profile users, including Millie Holmes, the daughter of broadcaster Paul Holmes. A woman from a wealthy Auckland family also faces methamphetamine-related charges. Her identity is suppressed.
Lead researcher Dr Chris Wilkins said more middle-class Ecstasy users reported increasing use of LSD rather than methamphetamine.
"These trends may reflect a wider shift in methamphetamine use away from the middle class towards lower socio-economic sections of the community."
The number of P labs dismantled by police was around 200 a year over the past three years, compared with nine in 2000 and 41 in 2001.
The P users interviewed for the survey reported a number of physical and psychological problems.
Many of the psychological problems were consistent with symptoms of drug psychosis, including strange thoughts, sound and visual hallucinations, paranoia and short temper.
"These findings provide some insight into the personal and social costs of frequent drug use and underline the rationale for providing drug treatment programmes and related support services to those drug users wishing to stop," the report stated.
More people were said to be using Ecstasy, with the price of the drug declining. Opiates were easy to get but cannabis remained the "staple illegal drug" in New Zealand and the easiest to obtain.
Dr Wilkins said researchers would like to hear from frequent drug users who are interested in participating in the 2007 survey.
They can contact:* 0800 854-101 and 0800 854-102 (Auckland).* 0800 854-103 and 0800 854-104 (Wellington)* 0800 854-105 and 0800 854-106 (Christchurch)
The Survey
* Tracks trends in drug use in New Zealand.
* Based on interviews with 114 methamphetamine users, 111 Ecstasy users and 93 injecting drug users.
* Found that cannabis, methamphetamine, Ecstasy and opiates are easy or very easy to obtain.
* Ecstasy users, who tend to be middle class, said fewer people in their circles were using methamphetamine.
