Meth lectures coming to the Far North

Methcon, the company founded by former Kaitaia-based detective and Northland MP Mike Sabin, is coming to Kerikeri and Kaitāia to educate people about methamphetamine and the dangers of using it.

Former drug squad detective Dale Kirk will deliver his lecture at Kerikeri's Turner Centre on Monday June 25 and Te Ahu in Kaitāia on Monday July 2. Those wishing to attend should email methcon.co.nz to register.

The Not Even Once — Saying No to Meth programme has already been delivered at more than 100 secondary schools, but this will be the first time it has been offered to the wider community. The lectures will feature video presentations of what happens to those who use methamphetamine, and the physical damage it does.

"We are trying to be the fence at the top of the cliff. It's a highly addictive drug, and our message is about prevention," Mr Kirk said.

"You will laugh, you may cry, you could be horrified, but you will definitely be enlightened by the experience. This is an eye-opener like no other, and if you are looking for food for thought, this is a feast like no other you will have experienced." Northland was not alone in terms of its methamphetamine problem and the drug's availability, he said.

"It has spread its tentacles across New Zealand. We need to reduce demand to reduce supply, and we can't arrest our way out of this," he said.

Despite continual seizures of the drug in Northland, police said as recently as earlier this month they had seen no visible signs of an impact on its availability, as demand continued to grow and the price fell.

The latest Massey University Illicit Drug Monitoring Systems data showed a sharp rise in supply and declining prices in Auckland and Christchurch over 2015-16, a trend that authorities have also noticed in Northland.

District Police Commander Superintendent Russell Le Prou said the focus on seizing the drug had not had any visible impact on its availability.

The Massey University report revealed the average price of a gram of methamphetamine fell in Auckland from $579 in 2015 to $485 in 2016, and in Christchurch from $1002 to $746. According to police the price per gram fluctuates, depending on supply and demand, between $500 and $700, averaging $650, down from about $1000.

Superintendent Le Prou said concentrating on demand would take some time to produce change.