Pubdate: Tue, 29 Apr 2014
Source: Waikato Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2014 Independent Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/486
Page: 3

FEARS FOR ADDICTS NOW WITH LEGAL HIGH BAN

Government's actions seen as an election year stunt, reports Florence 
Kerr. A move to ban legal highs is being seen as an "election year 
stunt" by those who've been fighting to get the stuff off the streets 
for months, saying it's too little too late for people who are now 
addicts of the drugs. Synthetic bye:

The Waikato Times travelled to Tokoroa yesterday  a town that's been 
fighting to eradicate the stuff  to gauge reaction.

Tokoroa's anti-synthetic campaigner, Julie King, said the 
government's delay in banning the legal highs had only seen the 
number of addicts grow and she was worried about what would happen to 
those people once the stuff was banned under urgency on May 8.

She said the move to ban should of been made earlier and described it 
as nothing more than an "election year stunt".

King  who led nationwide protests against synthetics  said at the 
moment there were no resources from the Ministry of Health for the 
drug and the lack of rehabilitation centres in the region has forced 
the tireless campaigner to help those who want to come off.

"We started a community support group to help people who want to come 
off it. We don't have medical people on it, we are just there to 
support. We have no other options."

At the Tokoroa R18 Party Shop  which has been the site of many a 
protest against the drugs  users agreed that there would be an issue 
getting addicts help.

Michael, a habitual synthetic smoker who did not want to give his 
last name, said the banning of the substance would drive users into 
other drugs.

"I think the Government are just sweeping the real issue under the 
carpet, addiction.

"What is going to happen to all those people who took up the drug 
because it was legal and because they thought it was safe? They will 
turn to other drugs," he said.

Another user Tim Cassidy said the ban would create a black market.

"I have no doubt it will go underground and be controlled by gangs 
and drug lords. I started taking this cause I use to smoke marijuana 
for 15 years and got sick of dealing with tinnie houses and having 
illegal stuff on me."

Cassidy thought the move was "stupid" and that the Government had 
bigger things to worry about.

"They should of controlled it better and put an age restriction of 21 on it."

But St Mark's Community Preschool, which is three doors down from the 
Tokoroa R18 Party Shop, was excited about the news.

Manager Dale Anderson said she was "happy" about the ban, which would 
mean users that loitered and fought in view of the children at the 
centre would be gone.

"It has made it difficult for our parents because they [users] park 
by our centre leaving our parents with nowhere to park. This is a great thing."

Tokoroa Hospital manager Joanne Knight also welcomed it and hoped her 
staff would no longer have to deal with patients on a synthetic highs.

"The staff have to deal with aggression, verbal abuse, having to 
manage patients who are so physically affected by these products that 
they can often not work, talk, or control their senses in any way."

Knight said the reduced accessibility would decrease the workload on 
her staff created by the drugs.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom