By Scott Campbell
Prime Minister John Key has outlined the Government’s attack on the drug P and vowed to destroy the multi million dollar business that it delivers to gangs.
He is making pseudoephedrine a class B2 drug, which means everyday cold and flu tablets, currently bought over the counter, will only be available by prescription
“There's no doubt that the PSE available in many cold and flu medications is fuelling our P problem. That's unacceptable to me,” he said in a speech today.
Key says there is a good alternative to pseudoephedrine and he does not believe prescription will be a problem.
He has described P as seriously addictive and viciously destructive, so pseudoephedrine will become a controlled drug and there will be tight restrictions for doctors, including how it is administered and how much can be prescribed.
Police and customs will get new powers and $22 million will go to fund treatment for addicts; an expected 3000 of them.
The average P user spends about $1900 a month to fuel the habit and often turns to crime to pay for it.
Those who profit from it, normally gangs, make millions and Key has vowed new laws will strip them of the money.
“My message to gangs is a pretty simple and clear one: this Government is coming after your business and we will use every tool we have to destroy it. We will be ruthless in our pursuit of you and the evil drug you push,” says Key.
Key says if this does not work he is prepared to go further and ban pseudoephedrine totally. A bill will be introduced to parliament next week, but it may be a few months before they are law.
3 News