The new plan from the government seems to double down on the old ways of attempting to suppress drugs in our communities and ignores the health-led approach from NZ Drug Foundation’s recent evidence-based report.
RNZ recently did a story about the report: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/575403/decriminalising-drug-use-best-way-to-combat-rising-addiction-report-finds
Allocating $30 million over four years to increase the services available to communities hardest hit by meth, within the Vote Health mental health and addiction budget.
Oh yay, their idea of mental health and addiction support is to take money already allocated to this purpose and spend it in the communities that would benefit the most. Ok but where was this money going before? And why does this government have a habit of announcing spending where the money was already ringfenced to spending on that thing?
Reallocating $30M does seem like weasel piss.
The report doesn’t offer a specific dollar number but if we look at what’s successful overseas and take into account the number of people needing help, NZ would probably need more like $100M/yr to be on par.
It will be an even bigger cost if we wait for it to grow more entrenched in society. New black markets for stolen goods grow and become systemic parts of the problem. When someone knows they can get a hit for a stolen bicycle, it becomes much harder to prevent bike thefts.
I wonder if there is a tracker somewhere for the number of thefts per region over time?
And why does this government have a habit of announcing spending where the money was already ringfenced to spending on that thing?
PR and damage control.
Alternatively it’s the government equivalent of Briscoes advertising a sale.
I remember when John Key personally took ownership of this issue with promises to get on top of it. Almost 15 years ago.
Let’s see if they learned anything since. The limitations of the National worldview are really going to hold them back. Remember these are the dickheads who thought trying bootcamps again would be worth a shot.
The government should be responsible for selling pure methamphetamines and other drugs in government drug stores.
