A
United Nations report
on amphetamine and Ecstasy use around the world says lifestyle demands, such as pressure to perform at work, drive people to use amphetamine-type stimulants.
The chemical stimulants offer young people an artificial pick-me-up, the chance to energise themselves, have fun, or escape reality, says the report.
And it warns that catchy brand-names such as lightning, flying saucer, disco biscuits, fantasy, hug drug and yaba are dangerously deceptive.
"They may create momentary masters of the universe - but over time their harmful effects prevail."
Mr Anderson said people may have used the drugs to increase their ability to work or study, and that gave a sense of reward.
But the negative consequences included psychotic episodes and the risk of self-harm or harming others.
"The negative consequences outweigh the positive."
Treatment providers told the Herald they were still treating more people for alcohol and cannabis addiction, but the number of clients battling amphetamines was increasing quickly.
The number of people using P is not known, but the 2001 National Drug Survey found 5 per cent of New Zealanders aged between 15 and 45 had used an illegal stimulant such as methamphetamine in the previous year.
That figure is expected to be significantly higher when new figures are issued this year.
The Salvation Army Bridge Centre says up to 50 per cent of clients identify P as their primary drug addiction, and Higher Ground said about 35 per cent - or 42 - clients in 2002-2003 said P was their primary drug addiction.
Some of these people would have other addictions, such as cannabis, alcohol and gambling.
The Hanmer Clinic receives five or six calls a day about its intensive out-patient programme from people worried about the drug.
Tom Drummond said his clinic mostly dealt with high earners.
Some spent between $1000 and $3000 a week on their addiction.
"My clients tell me it's an epidemic, and these people are generally in fairly senior positions in their professions."
All treatment centres the Herald spoke to said P users could be difficult to treat because the highly addictive drug made them volatile and anxious, and some were unable to stick with their decision to quit.
Survey suggests 55pc know of drug users
More than half the respondents to an internet survey about youth and drugs say they know someone who has used methamphetamine.
The "snapshot", by youth marketing consultancy '18', found 55 per cent of respondents had friends who had taken P, or pure methamphetamine, and 27.5 per cent said they did not know if friends had taken it.
More males (62.8 per cent) than females (45.9 per cent) said they knew someone who had used the drug. The company said the uncontrolled survey's results were not scientific, but reflected participants' opinions.
Of the 80 respondents, 56 per cent said they had taken illegal drugs - 18 per cent while at school. Forty per cent had never tried marijuana; 25 per cent used it "regularly".
Most reports of school-age drug use came from 24 to 30-year-olds (26.1 per cent) compared with 11.1 per cent of 15 to 17-year-olds. School drug testing rated a 40 per cent "yes"; 37 per cent said it was an invasion of rights or they would not agree to it.
* Has the drug P had an impact on your life or your community?
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The Ecstasy and Amphetamines Global Survey 2003
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Herald Feature: The P epidemic
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