Sadness walks with P march

Gloria Taaka, with Grand-daughters Violet and Jazmin Webby, holds a photo of Thomas Russell Ashworth who took his own life in 2004. Picture / Greg Bowker

There is a sadness among many of the 150-plus marchers striding down Hamilton's main street.

"Say no to P" they chant, to the raised fists, honking horns and clapping from people lining Victoria St.

The sadness is in the eyes of Sarah Hemapo from Pukekohe.

Too unwell to walk, she sits on the back of a Toyota ute in front of the procession, urging on marchers.

In her lap is a photograph of her son John Day, a former New Zealand Maori Rugby League coach.

Mrs Hemapo had not even heard of P when her son took his life in 2004.

"I didn't know he was taking it. If I did know I may have been able to save my son."

Mr Day is survived by a daughter, and it is for her and other people's grandchildren that Ms Hemapo joined the march.

"He died days before his 44th birthday. I am here because I want to help our children, I want to help other grandparents, so they don't receive that call."

The Fight Against P march is travelling to Parliament through major centres in the North Island, to raise public awareness of the drug's dangers.

Yesterday, marchers chanted their way through Ngaruawahia, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tokoroa and Taupo, handing out pamphlets, and calling for donations.

Organised by Pukekohe grandmother Marie Cotter, the marchers will arrive in Wellington tomorrow, where they will lay wreaths and photographs on the steps of Parliament in memory of the lives lost to P.

Ms Cotter wants greater Government support to help users kick the habit.

She has called for more support for families and victims of P-related crime, and more spending to educate young people about the drug.

Suzy Renata of Auckland holds a photo of her son James Clark as she marches through Rotorua. He took his life last July after months battling addiction.

She says there was little support for her and her family after his death, a situation that has not improved.

"There are not enough rehabs, not enough support for the families."

She has spent the past year with other concerned parents, raising awareness of P's destructiveness.

"There are complaints about New Zealand becoming a PC nation, now we are a P nation.

"I am a victim of P, I am a mother who has lost her son. I don't want pity, I want understanding and help for users and their families."

Police inspector Wally Haumaha, who is co-ordinating traffic at towns the marchers pass through, has applauded the initiative.

He labelled P the scourge of many communities.

He was disappointed more people did not join marchers in Rotorua, where he said the drug was devastating many families.

"We have grandmothers and mothers coming to us saying, can you help us, I don't recognise my own child."


Q&A

The March against P is heading to Parliament, where campaigners will ask the Government for 11 things. What are they? How realistic are they, and how is the Clark Administration responding?

* Increased public awareness of the nature of P.
Happening, says Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton. He is responsible for Government drug policy, and says that much P awareness work has been going on, including a 2004 pamphlet drop highlighting the Alcohol and Drug Helpline website and the Ministry of Health drug policy site. Another P leaflet is being prepared and $110,000 is being spent on TV promotion of the Alcohol and Drug Helpline (0800-787-797, 10am-10pm daily). Last year's Budget gave $2.55 million to add five Community Action Youth and Drug programmes (Cayads) to the 22 in existence.

* A budget separate from the health budget for treatment and rehabilitation of drug users and addicts.
Unlikely. Treatment for drug users is part of mental health funding, with about $78 million spent annually on alcohol and drug treatment services, says Mr Anderton. "As most drug users are poly drug users there is no distinction made on the spend for P. I would have to be convinced that there were real advantages for a separate budget."

* More drug treatment programmes accessible to all within a reasonable timeframe.
Yes, there is a waiting list problem. Mr Anderton says that although in the past five years there has been an increase of 400 full-time-equivalent positions working in the drug sector and an increase of more than 40 beds, we "could do with more". A "substantial amount of funding" has gone to training people. "Once that investment is realised, then waiting list times will improve."

* Reinforcement of police units which respond to community complaints of illegal drug activity.
Unlikely. Police take a supply reduction approach, says spokeswoman Sarah Martin. Initiatives include specialised teams to investigate and dismantle clandestine labs, new posts with a P-fighting focus in the National Drug Intelligence Bureau, and evidence processing against P cooks. The development of protocols with pharmacists and the Chemical Industry Council aim to prevent diversion of legitimate substances into P manufacture.

* The school curriculum to include a compulsory education programme on P and other drugs.
Unlikely. The Ministry of Education says schools must follow the set health and physical education curriculum, but it is a very broad framework and institutions can choose to focus on drugs and structure a programme to reflect what's happening locally. Mary Chamberlain, the ministry's senior manager of curriculum teaching and learning, recommends the ministry publication Drug Education: A Guide for Principals and Boards of Trustees.

* A dedicated anonymous call centre.
Possible. Mr Anderton says officials are considering this. But as money was allocated last year to promote the Alcohol and Drug Helpline, he wants to see the effectiveness of that first.

* Families should be able to petition the courts for the involuntary admittance of a user to a drug treatment programme.
Already possible. Families can petition the courts for "committal" treatment, but few do. Evidence shows that drug treatment works best when users voluntarily accept it, says Mr Anderton. The Alcoholism and Drug Addictions Act 1966, which covers this, is being reviewed by the ministry.

* Tougher sentencing for drug users and sellers.
No plans for change. Sentences have been stiffened, says Gordon Hook, the Ministry of Justice's manager of criminal and international law. P was switched from a class B drug to class A in 2003, which means making, importing or selling it now carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. For possession, penalties are imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to $1000 or both. Last year, the quantity of methamphetamine allowable under a charge of possession was reduced to 5g, meaning more people will be liable for supply charges and heavier penalties.

* More organised, youth-oriented activities.
Happening. Mr Anderton says Cayads get involved in activities as part of their strategy to reduce drug demand. Those wanting to start something for young people can seek advice at their local Sport and Recreation Council (Sparc). Organisations can approach the Lottery Grants Board for funding.

* More drug rehabilitation programmes in jails.
Corrections spokeswoman Zoe Anderson says that although the department recognises the link between drug use and criminal behaviour, "there is no current funding for additional treatment units, but the placement of additional units will be considered at a later date".

* Reduce the number of pseudoephedrine products [intended for drug manufacture] entering the country.
Customs already is, says a spokesman. In the 2004-2005 year, using methods ranging from intelligence to sniffer dogs to scanners and x-rays, Customs intercepted the equivalent of 1,436,862 tablets of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, up 8 per cent on the previous year.