escalating violence in our community Become a member of the Sensible Sentencing Trust

Mouseover links or blue arrows below for full page descriptions

Broken hearts and families
The legacy of illicit drug use

The best kept secret in NZ society is the number of families who have “lost” a member to drug use.

Typically, parents are completely unaware of their son / daughter's drug use until suddenly their personality changes – they become physically and verbally abusive, they want to borrow more and more money to “fix their car”, “pay their rent” etc etc – and when you finally stop supplying it, you become the “cause of all their problems”.

You go to the Police, but they're not interested even though P is an illicit drug – they wait until “another” crime has been committed. And we all know the kinds of crimes that P users are capable of committing.

Counsellors will tell you that there's nothing you can do to stop this person's drug use “until they want to stop”. That usually requires “hitting the bottom” - and that “bottom” can be jail or death. Theirs or someone else's.

Many of the victims represented by SST became the victims of people under the influence of drugs.

The parents of drug users are victims too. Their son / daughter has gone – no longer part of their family. They are the elephant in the room that no-one talks about at Christmas and on Mothers and Fathers Day.

The children of drug users are also potential victims, as highlighted by many child abuse cases committed by drug using caregivers.

Many Grandparents are raising their grandchildren because the drug-using parents are incapable of doing this. These children are the lucky ones.

As SST Spokesperson on Drug Issues, Christine Davey is actively campaigning for Intervention in Drug Use at family request, and Removal of Unsupervised Access to children for Drug Users

What resources are out there?

Fight against P New Zealanders Protecting their future . . . Against -'P' - Methamphetamine - Crystal Meth

Website Fight Against P
Our Goal is to Educate the Public About the Dangers of Methamphetamine and Offer Support / Help to Families of Users and Support to Recovering Addicts.

CADS Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) Auckland

Website CADS Auckland
When you are ready to change your alcohol and other drug use, or you are concerned about someone else, Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) Auckland is here to help. CADS is a FREE service.

ADANZ Alcohol Drug Association NZ

Website ADANZ
Offers a range of alcohol and other drug information and a telephone helpline around alcohol and other drug use. 10am-10pm 0800 787 797 Offers Intervention and Co-ordination services

Capri Trust Clinic Private Clinic for Alcohol, Drugs and Gambling Problems

Website Capri Clinic
Private clinic provides onsite care. Suitable for people who need an exclusive treatment centre. Charges a fee

Care New Zealand
runs Harbour House in Lyttelton
Another private clinic that also charges a fee for treatment