P march organiser worried at level of ignorance

Methamphetamine march organiser Marie Cotter believes more than ever, after the first day of her march to Parliament, the country needs to be told of the dangers of P.

She led 100 marchers out of Auckland yesterday in a hikoi to Parliament where she said they would appeal to the compassion of MPs to help stop the P scourge and the damage the drug was doing to young New Zealanders.

However, she said after comments from the side of the road as they passed, she was more determined than ever the hikoi would succeed.

Some people had no idea of the damage and destruction of lives and families that P had caused.

"I found that out by going through the town," she said from Hamilton.

"We are giving out pamphlets and they are yelling out 'what is P? what is P?'," she said.

"Nobody should be doing that. If there is information out there, everyone should know about this drug. Everyone should know what this drug can do. Everyone should know how our children are at risk."

She said it was scary how many people knew very little about the drug.

Many people whose children were using P were unaware of the devastating harm it could do. Many users were also unaware of the potential before they began using it, she said.

She said she wanted the politicians to start an education programme for children from as young as seven and a hotline for users or those who needed facts about the drugs.

"I am looking for compassion from our MPs."

The march was expected to arrive in Wellington at about midday on Thursday.

- NZPA