TV doco a wasted chance

By LOUISA CLEAVE

Suffering from paranoia brought on by exposure to methamphetamine yet?

You don't have to be using the drug to feel the effects of its grip on New Zealand.

Those who watched last night's TV One documentary, Wasted, may today find themselves crawling through the neighbour's backyard sniffing the air for toxic chemicals.

Drug experts from overseas warned us five years ago that we had a growing problem.

Wasted reminded us of one such warning by officer Gary Shimabukoro from Hawaii in the first few minutes, but unfortunately left it there.

No politician was interviewed. The few sound bites taken from police were used to explain that labs were being busted and use of P was growing "hugely fast and affecting all areas of society".

Faceless prisoners Stuart, Ross, and Daniel recounted their individual horror stories.

Stuart lost $1 million, his family and ended up stealing to pay for his $1500-a-day habit: "It was a time bomb ticking away within me."

Long-term speed user Ross: "It will take everything you own ... When you first start using it's very clear, then you start needing more and more and more."

Daniel, a former bar worker serving time for the manslaughter of his girlfriend: "I believed I was going to get hammered to death ... started carrying weapons ... believed there were people in the backyard watching me."

Six weeks out of rehabilitation, Paul's memory was shot and after 30 minutes of work he was exhausted.

The documentary makers obviously wanted to cover everything: from how easily lab fires begin to the environmental risk of pouring toxic waste down drains. From health workers treating victims of random violent crimes to a doctor in Hawaii giving an incomplete picture of the effect on the brain.

In trying to catch up on the debate, Wasted missed an opportunity to take it further.


Herald Feature: The P epidemic

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