Clampdown imminent on sales of P ingredients

John Key. Photo / Greg Bowker

Much tighter restrictions on the sale of over-the-counter cold and flu tablets containing pseudoephedrine, the main ingredient in P, are on the way.

Prime Minister John Key will today announce measures to combat the abuse of methamphetamine, ranging from limiting the availability of precursor ingredients through to providing more Government funding for the treatment of addicts.

The restrictions on the sale of tablets will be based on the recommendations of Sir Peter Gluckman, Mr Key's chief science adviser.

Sir Peter's report recommended a number of options, including making pseudoephedrine prescription-only.

It is understood Sir Peter's report has found the alternative to pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, already has 60 to 70 per cent of the market share in New Zealand, meaning ordinary consumers would not be overly disrupted by the restrictions.

Big brands such as Codral and Sudafed already use phenylephrine.

The Government funding for treating addicts will include money for extra beds for rehabilitation.

This year's "The War on P" series in the Herald quoted the loved ones of P users describing how they were at their wits' end trying to find treatment for the addiction.

One mother said she watched her son cry on the phone as he begged to be let into a rehabilitation programme.

Mr Key will announce the measures to a selected group of interested parties in Auckland today.

He is expected to outline his personal commitment to continue leading the fight against P with all the resources he has at his disposal.

Mr Key's announcement will draw together a number of agencies from across Government.

It is understood he has ordered Customs to increase its focus on stopping P at the border, and the police will subject those who deal in the drug, particularly gangs, to intense and sustained scrutiny.