Robert Steenhuisen and Chris Kalin: Ten things the Government should work on to treat P

Opinion

That strange noise heard across New Zealand after the Prime Minister talked about P was the collective sound of every alcohol and drug treatment worker's jaw dropping.

John Key had just delivered his speech on the Government's new initiatives for tackling P addiction and, to our amazement, gave us pretty much everything we've been requesting for the past 10 years.

The approach will tackle New Zealand's P problem from at least five different angles: restricting precursor supply; enhancing law enforcement; increasing treatment availability; improving support and education; and increasing accountability.

But best of all (be still our beating hearts) $22 million has been set aside for P addiction treatment. That money will allow for improved assessment, more and better treatment programmes and more and better-trained treatment workers. In short, more people will get the help they need when they need it instead of having to wait for months, during which time many lose heart.

The announcement included plenty of meaty matters like forced treatment, tackling gangs, and new powers for customs and police. But the only thing to make headlines was that cold medications will now be harder to get. Restricting the sale of pseudoephedrine is just one small part of the plan. In fact, it is the multi-faceted approach to tackling P that is so encouraging.

So here's our advice to the Government on how to spend that $22 million.

1. There are all sorts of clinical approaches to helping people addicted to P. That's a good thing because all addicts are different and no one approach works for everybody. Make sure variety is maintained.

2. Some people are so addicted to P that they must be removed from society for a time to address their drug dependence. Don't waver from your commitment to provide more detox and residential beds. Find ways to provide even more if you can.

3. Develop the treatment workforce and start right now. Getting qualified people to deal with P addicts takes time.

4. Get the treatment and judicial sectors talking. Make addiction assessment part of the court process and divert addicted criminals to treatment instead of prison. Jails are full of drugs and most addicts will come out in a worse state. Treatment costs less than jail.

5. Look at the evidence when deciding what to do. In the end it's not about who's liberal or conservative, or about what will offend the least voters. It's about what will really work in getting people off P.

6. Involve families and communities in treatment wherever you can.

7. Don't be scared to spend the money. Yes, it's expensive, but every dollar spent will save $5 in social and health costs down the track.

8. By all means get tough on gangs, manufacturers and importers, but don't wage war on P users, who are often unfortunate victims of themselves.

9. Remember that P may just be the start of an addict's problems. For real rehabilitation to occur, treatment must also take into account things like finding appropriate housing, improving childcare, and helping them disengage from criminal activities.

10. Don't lose heart. People can and do overcome P addiction. Your new "Tackling P" initiatives are an excellent start and you will find the treatment sector is behind you all the way.

* Robert Steenhuisen is the regional manager of Community Alcohol and Drug Services at Waitemata District Health Board.

Chris Kalin is the chief executive of Odyssey House, Auckland. They are co-chairmen of the National Committee for Addiction Treatment.