Memory Loss Common With P 'Tweakers'

Monday, 26 January, 2009
http://www.voxy.co.nz/national/memory-loss-common-p-039tweakers039/5/7860


The desperate escape attempt following a crime spree by Stephen McDonald may well be a total blur as a result of P use according to MethCon Group Director Mike Sabin.

"Tweakers are meth users who are in the most destructive, violent and unpredictable phase of the cycle of use. Typically they may have been awake for many days, bingeing on the drug until their supply either runs out or they are no longer capable of achieving a high due to depletion of dopamine reserves and they start to experience drug withdrawal and cravings", said Mr. Sabin.

"It is common for people in this phase of use and withdrawal from pure methamphetamine use to experience significant memory loss while also displaying violent, unpredictable, and desperate behaviour, on the face of it appearing entirely psychotic", claimed Mr. Sabin.

The other major psychological disturbance experienced by a Tweaker is intense paranoia, to the extent that they will genuinely believe the delusions and hallucinations they are experiencing and this is further heightened when they are pursued by Police, as all their worst fears are now coming to fruition. In this state they seldom surrender compliantly to arrest", said Mr. Sabin

"While it appears that McDonald was tweaking and may well have significant memory loss of the event subsequent to it, at the time he would have been fully aware of the situation, albeit seeing it unfold in a state akin to watching a video in fast forward. Beyond this, 'intoxication' of this nature provides no defence in law to crimes carried out", said Mr. Sabin.

"Sadly this situation is no different to what we saw when Antonie Dixon was attempting to evade Police and murdered James Te Aute and Karl Kuchenbecker was murdered in cold blood by Graham Burton, also running from Police after his meth induced rampage", said Mr. Sabin.

"The bigger questions relate to the failure of government and Police over the past 10 years to meet the challenge of this drug and make the changes that can be and must be made", said Mr. Sabin.

http://www.3news.co.nz/News/Nationa...tabid/423/articleID/88404/cat/64/Default.aspx
Motorway shooting blamed on drugs
Mon, 26 Jan 2009 6:01p.m.

First glimpses have been made of the man police pursued to disaster. Stephen McDonald faces a total of 29 charges. The most serious charge being that he used a sawn off point 22 rifle against police ten times and once against an officer in the police helicopter.

He has also been charged with the aggravated burglary of four West Auckland homes, stealing cars and driving charges that occurred during the chase that led to the motorway shootout in which Halatau Naitoko died from a police bullet in the chest. But McDonald’s lawyer says his client barely remembers any of that.

“He was officially told yesterday in my presence that there had been a person who had died as a result, he had no knowledge of it,” stated McDonald’s lawyer, Roger Chambers. “I am able to say that he has no present knowledge of what occurred for some five days leading up until Friday.” Chambers says its likely McDonald was under the influence of methamphetamine - commonly known as 'P'.

When asked if McDonald was under the influence of methamphetamine, Mr Douglas stated: “I can’t comment on that, but I would think that it’s a fair guess that probably it’s likely to have been methamphetamine.”

McDonald’s sister Anne-Marie was at court, and told 3 News the man who went on the rampage was not the brother she knew. She said she too believed drugs were responsible.

'P' expert Mike Sabin says McDonald showed all the hallmarks of a ‘tweaker’ - a street term for a 'P' user who has been awake for many days bingeing until their supply runs out.

“They’re starting to come down from meth rush and they are experiencing quite extreme psychological breakdown,” explains Mr Sabin. “They're unable to rationalise information. They hear and see in fast forward. They're often extremely paranoid.” But Sabin says while it appears McDonald may have memory loss after the event, at the time he would have been fully aware of the situation. “They’re aware as much as someone can be that’s experiencing delusions, hallucinations and intense paranoia,” continues Mr Sabin.

McDonald was quiet and subdued in the dock today. He only turned round to nod at his family, entered no plea and made no application for bail. He was remanded in custody to appear again on February 5. Police say its likely more charges will be laid by then.

Guys like this give drugs a bad name.

They never write articles about the highly productive workers on meth, achieving what many others can't, just the odd crazy who goes on a rampage.

This guy was smashing it down the motorway shooting at cop cars.

The cops shot back at him and accidently killed an innocent 17 year old driver who was a father and getting married in two weeks.

It's been all over the news the last week. Really a very sad situation.

What is "P"? Kiwi slang for meth?

Yip its "P" for pure.
The meth over here although expensive is 90 percent at least.