'P' problem must get attention
The Kiwi Party
Press Release
May 17, 2009

Kiwi Party Mt Albert candidate, Simonne Dyer, applauded the establishment of the Stellar Trust and its fundraising inaugural dinner. It is great news that a charity such as the Stellar Trust has formed to focus on New Zealand’s P problem. The Government however, should not be expecting the community to do this work on its own.

How much has been spent by the Government recently on attempts to contain swine flu compared to this real epidemic which has been destroying lives for years in our communities? If estimates that P affects 4-7% of our population and Paul Holmes’ claims that recovery from P addiction is limited at this stage to 4-5%, then tens of thousands of Kiwis are being destroyed by P.

The Kiwi Party leader, Larry Baldock, has on many occasions called for a greater focus by Government on the problems with P, said Mrs Dyer. This is one of the very important issues I want to discuss during the by-election and I hope Mt Albert and New Zealand may hear more than endless debates about a road vs. a tunnel.

Given the widespread acknowledgment that drug abuse has a direct link to much of our crime rates such as burglary, child abuse and the increasing violent crimes that are shocking us all as a nation, we must place a major focus on our drug problem if we are to improve the safety and wellbeing of our society.

Auckland's top prosecutor, Crown Solicitor Simon Moore, SC, says P has had "a massive and extraordinary effect on crime". He believes at least 80 per cent of recent High Court trials were connected to the drug.

The Kiwi Party also supports Paul Holmes’ call for MPs to urgently address the country’s lack of detox centres. Families must have somewhere to place their loved ones in times of crisis such as these. We must do all we can to ensure they get the very best care to start on the road to being set free from the hideous addictions of P and cocaine.

To quote Mr Holmes, “New Zealand is in the grip of an evil thing!” Those who manufacture and peddle this horrible drug are in fact responsible for the destruction of many lives. Too many parents are left with the nightmare scenario of dealing with their teenage P users with nowhere to turn for help.”

ENDS

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