Pure Methamphetamine ("P")
What is methamphetamine?
Methamphetamine is extremely addictive and destructive. It has serious social, economic and even environmental consequences.
Methamphetamine is a member of the "amphetamine" group of synthetic or designer drugs that have a powerful stimulant effect on a person's central nervous system. It produces wakefulness, hyperactivity, lots of energy and an euphoric effect.
In New Zealand, the most commonly abused drugs in this group are methamphetamine, amphetamine, Ecstasy and the prescription drug Ritalin.
On the street, methamphetamine has a range of nicknames including "pure", "P", "burn" "goey", "crank", "meth", "crystal", "ice" and "Ya Ba". It can be a powder, a crystal 'rock' like form, or a pill.
The nickname "P" is unique to New Zealand.
The crystal form of methamphetamine is the most pure and becoming more common. Called "ice" due to its appearance; white or translucent crystals. Ice has more pronounced effects on the central nervous system and is highly addictive.
Users snort the powder, inject a liquid combination, swallow a pill or smoke the more pure (and more dangerous) crystal forms using what is called an "ice pipe".
Effects of P
The effects of P on users can vary and are therefore unpredictable. Tolerance rapidly sets in - meaning that greater and greater doses need to be taken to achieve the same effect.
Increased use commonly results in compounding paranoia, psychosis and extreme mood swings. This in turn can lead to violence and violent offending such as serious assault and even homicide, especially when the intense craving for the drug often leads to repeated use for days on end, without sleep or food.
Eventually the constant "high" cannot be sustained and the user starts to come down in a steep crash. This overwrought state, often referred to as "tweaking", is when the user is in their most violent and unpredictable state. Sometimes they will resort to cannabis or even heroin, as a "downer", to get over this state.
Methamphetamine is expensive and users often fund their addiction by resorting to crime. New Zealand Police have investigated an increasing number of homicides where the distribution, use or debts associated with methamphetamine have had a direct link to the crime.
Who makes P?
Some methamphetamine is imported from countries like China but most is manufactured in New Zealand in clandestine drug laboratories, known as "clan labs".
The illegal manufacture, distribution and marketing of P is big business in New Zealand and the profits to be made from it have produced some previously unheard of business alliances. Gangs who were once sworn enemies now prefer to work together because it's good for business.
Dangers of Manufacturing
There are inherent risks in the manufacturing process due to the poisonous, explosive, corrosive, toxic and extremely flammable chemicals used. The process is dangerous for the cooks who are often inexperienced in the safe handling of chemicals, for the public, and for emergency services.
Some of the chemical processes involved in producing P can produce highly toxic, deadly gases. These fumes and chemicals pose a significant safety issue for Police, ESR and other emergency personnel involved in the investigation and clean-up process.
Environmental Pollution
A number of clandestine laboratory operators have been discovered dumping chemical waste into local water supplies, farmlands, venting fumes near schools and dumping volatile waste in rented sheds.
Every kilogram of manufactured meth produces around 7 kilograms of toxic by-product that is either flushed down toilets, or dumped outside - quite often in residential neighbourhoods.
Buildings can become contaminated with the chemical process containing carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) that pose a danger to future occupiers, especially children.