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NEWS NZ: Cheap killer showing up at NZ parties

organicshroom

organicshroom

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Cheap killer showing up at NZ parties

A new party drug linked to deaths in Europe has made its way to New Zealand.

Customs Service staff have made 15 interceptions of mephedrone, totalling 816g, since November.

The drug can bought legally over the internet in Britain for as little as £4 ($8.70) a gram because of its use in plant food but is illegal here.

There are no recorded interceptions before last year.

Police say they have been aware for some time of the availability of mephedrone, which is classified in New Zealand as a Class-C drug.

The maximum penalty for possession is three months' jail and/or a $500 fine. The maximum penalty for importing, cultivating and/or supplying is eight years' imprisonment.

The drug, also called plant food, meow meow or white magic, is reportedly manufactured in China and comes in powder or pill form.

It is often taken or sold as a substitute for Ecstasy and has been reported to have caused fits, blood circulation problems, vomiting, nausea, nose bleeds, nose burns, hallucinations, rashes and paranoia.

Last month, English 20-year-old Steph Howard died after taking mephedrone while on a night out with friends.

And in November, 14-year-old Brighton resident Gabrielle Price died of a suspected heart attack after taking a combination of mephedrone and ketamine.

The drug was also linked to the 2008 death of a Swedish 18-year-old, who apparently took mephedrone with cannabis two days before.

The UK's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs is expected to advise the Government this month whether mephedrone should be controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

New Zealand National Drug Intelligence Bureau co-ordinator Stuart Mills says the drug is banned in Norway, Finland, Denmark, Israel and Sweden.

"Concerns have been raised about the strength of mephedrone available in New Zealand and it is believed that some drug users take mephedrone as a substitute for Ecstasy [MDMA]," he said. "There is also a risk that tablets which people believe to be MDMA may in fact contain mephedrone."

Customs spokesman Aaron Hailwood said that in all 15 interceptions, mephedrone was in its powder form. Fourteen were made at the International Mail Centre in Auckland, the other at a fast-freight base.

In 13 of the cases, the mephedrone had come from Britain and in the other two, China.

Ross Bell, executive director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, said mephedrone wasn't yet at a scale in New Zealand where "people were turning up in hospital".

"You crack down on mephedrone and the next week they'll be something else ... It shows New Zealanders have an appetite for getting their hands on these sorts of things."

WHAT IS IT?

* Class-C drug mephedrone.
* Also known as plant food, meow meow or white magic.
* Used as a substitute for Ecstasy (MDMA).
* Rapidly grown in popularity in Europe and now arriving here.
* Blamed for fits, vomiting, nausea, nose bleeds, hallucinations, and paranoia.
* Linked to at least three deaths.
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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10629320
 
^ I think they were quite naive to it until late last year until they seized the first package. Also do note, that they stepped up the customs staff quite dramatically in October last year for incomming mail/packages in attempt to catch psuedo-ephedrine.

07 December 2009
PM: Seizures show Govt ‘P' plan is working

Prime Minister John Key today welcomed significant results achieved just weeks after announcing the Government's plan to tackle the dangerous drug ‘P".

"In early October I outlined the National Government's plan to tackle the menace that is ‘P'. The Government Plan on Methamphetamine included a range of initiatives involving various agencies like Police and Customs.

"This seriously addictive drug is ruining lives and costing society. Part of our approach has been to attack the supply chain of this drug," says Mr Key.

"In an intensive period from the start of October through to November, Customs intercepted a total of 230kgs of methamphetamine precursor pseudoephedrine at the border, compared with 67kgs over the same period last year. Fifteen arrests were also made.

"The 230kgs seized has come in a large number of interceptions of smaller amounts of the precursor, not through one or a small number of large hauls.

"The amount seized in that period is more than three times as much as was seized in the same period last year.

"Customs advises that this is the most successful eight weeks on record, stopping what would have been an estimated $84 million worth of ‘P' hitting the streets with all the consequent harm that causes.

"The success so far from these interceptions is evident not just in the amounts being seized, but also anecdotal evidence that the price of the drug has increased on the streets.

"Part of the Government Action Plan involved the redeployment of up to 40 Customs staff from other duties to aid in the effort.

"More than 140 Customs staff are involved now, and criminals should be warned that Government agencies, including Customs, will be maintaining the pressure.

"The plan announced in October attacked the ‘P' problem from all directions -cracking down on precursors, breaking supply chains, providing better routes to treatment, supporting families, and strengthening leadership and accountability.

"The Government will not let up in its efforts to target the ‘P' trade, which is causing so much harm to society. We will continue our approach, and look at new equipment, new tactics, and new ways to combat the trade."

For details on the Government Action Plan on Methamphetamine, see:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm+outlines+national+govt039s+plan+fight+‘p039
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http://www.johnkey.co.nz/categories/2-News-release/P3.html
 
organicshroom said:
^ I think they were quite naive to it until late last year until they seized the first package.
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They weren't here. They used to include the "what's legal to import brochure" in some incoming packages. And that was more than 3 years ago.
 
more of this stuff... see they flat out want to ban everything that people get high on. Without first putting some research into the risks to society, instead labeling a drug as bad because it's been linked with deaths.

Alcohol and Tobacco are linked with more deaths than any other drugs combined - and they know this.

It's time to get real and realize there is a market for this stuff, humans like drugs - its human nature to want to get high. Take the product, Make its importation without permit illegal, and tax it to high heaven to make money off people wanting to party...

these drugs have -some- abuse potential, but even so, if you say you're addicted to it, you're a fool, because your brain just cant tollerate too much DA/5HT release, and you have to stop eventually, if you ever want that high again.

MDMA and imo mephedrone/methylone should all be as legal as alcohol. If the barman see's you too intoxicated, they refuse sale.
 
MrIbis said:
these drugs have -some- abuse potential, but even so, if you say you're addicted to it, you're a fool, because your brain just cant tollerate too much DA/5HT release, and you have to stop eventually, if you ever want that high again.
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Yeah because it's not psychologically addictive at all is it 8)

4-MMC has HUGE abuse potential, to say otherwise is just ignorance.
 
I wasn't referring to that side of things, i'm talking about the pharmacology of the substance, it's really not possible to enjoy it after a period, and anyone who continues fiending on it is a fool.

I'm well aware its a fiendish substance mate. But it sits in the same catagory as MDMA for actual 'addictive' potential due to its pharmacological profile imo. Further use beyond a single session will only cause damage to the brain, and won't produce empathy/euphoria, only a slight stimulant effect with some definate mental hazing going on. I can't see that being a reason anyone would want to abuse it beyond that. And i know people have done so - but all regret it, just like people who do stupid benders on MDMA.
 
MrIbis said:
I wasn't referring to that side of things, i'm talking about the pharmacology of the substance, it's really not possible to enjoy it after a period, and anyone who continues fiending on it is a fool.

I'm well aware its a fiendish substance mate. But it sits in the same catagory as MDMA for actual 'addictive' potential due to its pharmacological profile imo. Further use beyond a single session will only cause damage to the brain, and won't produce empathy/euphoria, only a slight stimulant effect with some definate mental hazing going on. I can't see that being a reason anyone would want to abuse it beyond that. And i know people have done so - but all regret it, just like people who do stupid benders on MDMA.
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I realise that and completely agree with you regarding re-dosing, I was addressing your broad statement on addiction :)
 
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