P for 'losers' but cannabis 'hardly illegal' - teens

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Young people believe the drug methamphetamine, or P, is for "losers" but see little difference between cannabis, ecstasy, tobacco and alcohol, according a survey.

The UMR Research work on a small group - about 20 young people aged between 12 and 17 - was carried out for anti-P group the Stellar Trust, and aimed to gain an understanding of young people's attitudes to the drug and identify initiatives that would be most effective in deterring its use amongst NZ youth.

It showed media stories about the links to horror crime and health damage were putting young people off the drug, Stellar chief executive Mike Williams said.

The survey found party pills had gone out of favour since they became illegal while ecstasy was seen mostly as a party drug used by older teens.

Heroin, cocaine and P were viewed as the most serious drugs and were the least used.

Key deterrents to trying P were addictive behaviour, its impact on appearance, the negative profile of users and it was viewed as a heavy duty drug.

The teens also knew it could change personality - make you angry, steal, destroy families and a user's appearance.

Many of the teens were relaxed about drug use and not affected by the death of 16-year-old King's College student James Webster after he had knocked back a bottle of vodka. His death was seen as a chance to crack down on teens.

About half had tried marijuana, which was "hardly viewed as illegal" and was widely available and prevalent in schools.

But despite the dim view of P, the tolerant attitude to cannabis and ecstasy meant they remained gateways to harder drugs, said former detective and managing director of drug education company Methcon Group Dale Kirk.

Research clearly showed a link between regular cannabis use and the subsequent use of harder drugs. Regular cannabis users were 60 times more likely to move on to these harder drugs, he said.

Mr Kirk said it was worrying but not at all surprising that an attitude of tolerance to cannabis and other drugs remained.

"Sadly the romantic notion of cannabis as being a soft drug remains as strong as ever.

"This is hardly surprising given the home environment and communities that many young people find themselves growing up in where cannabis is accepted by adult role models as OK and used on a daily basis."

Mr Kirk said it was difficult to convince cannabis users of the damage it could cause to a fragile, developing adolescent brain.

The cannabis now available was up to 30 times more potent that the drug that was available 30 to 40 years ago, he said.

"Until we see resources placed into demand-based initiatives such as hard hitting advertising campaigns and mass education programmes we will continue to see New Zealanders targeted by dealers."

- NZPA