Research

28th May 2008
RESEARCH: SOLUTIONS TO THE METHAMPHETAMINE CRISIS IN NEW ZEALAND
A study of supply and demand-side interventions and their efficacy

Press Releases

10th May 2010
IS THE PM'S P STRATERGY REALLY WORKING ?
The Prime Minister today released the indicator and progress report on this government’s methamphetamine strategy, first implemented in October 2009 and not surprisingly was confident their tactics were working, but there are question marks about whether the approaches taken will actually translate into real and sustainable success according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin...more

7th May 2010
LEADERSHIP AWARD FOR ANTI - P MAN
On Saturday the 8th of May New Zealand Toastmasters are holding their annual convention at the Duxton Hotel in Wellington and will honour New Zealand’s leading methamphetamine specialist and educator, Mike Sabin with their national Communication and Leadership award...more

For more on the ward and Mike Sabin go to: www.toastmasters.co.nz

11th Febuary 2010
LAW COMMISSION REPORT - DISCRIMINALISED DRUG USE ONE STEP CLOSER
The release today of the Law Commission’s report on controlling and regulating drug use signals that New Zealand is moving ever closer to decriminilised use of illicit drugs according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin...more

7th December 2009
MORE SEIZURES AT THE BORDER MAY INCREASE PROFITS FOR P DEALERS
The success of recent border interdictions of pseudoephedrine announced by Prime Minister John Key is pleasing but according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin is also a double edged sword...more

1st December 2009
CANNABIS USE DECRIMINALISED WHILE POLICE SEIZE DEALERS' ASSETS
New asset recovery legislation coming into action today will see Police able to seize unexplained income and assets from drug dealers far more easily, but at the same time a new Police policy of formal warnings for so called minor offences is tantamount to decriminalising possession and use of cannabis according to former Police detective and MethCon Group director Mike Sabin...more

8th October 2009
THE ‘KEY’ TO TACKLING P
While there are some positive advances announced by the Prime Minister in the government’s new strategy for tackling P, in the main it appears that the approach is to try and do the same thing - harder, while expecting a different outcome, according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin...more

14th April 2009
$50M PRICE TAG FOR STATE SPONSORED DRUG ABUSE
At a time that a fine tooth comb is being run through ineffective government expenditure, the $50m per annum being paid out to beneficiaries who are addicted to drugs and alcohol is worthy of closer scrutiny according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin... more

14th April 2009
NO SAFE TEEN ALCOHOL USE - RESEARCH RELEASED
An Australian study related to the drinking habits of adolescents has exposed the common misconceptions about safe alcohol use and the failings of harm minimisation approaches according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin.....more

3rd April 2009
DRUGS DRIVE CRIME
On a day when the government is meeting to discuss drivers of crime it is worth looking beneath the veneer of the Police offence statistics for the past 10 years to understand just how endemic the violence caused by methamphetamine and drug abuse has become in New Zealand and the need for strategies to address this according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin.....more

26th January 2009
MEMORY LOSS COMMON WITH P 'TWEAKERS'
The desperate escape attempt following a crime spree by Stephen McDonald may well be a total blur as a result of P use according to MethCon Group Director Mike Sabin.....more

25th November 2008
COLLINS RISING TO THE CHALLENGE OF P
Acknowledgements by Police Minister Judith Collins that we need to do whatever we can to remove the scourge of P from our streets is a significant call to action according to MethCon Group Director Mike Sabin. .....more

18th November 2008
BILLIONS CAN BE SAVED BY NEW GOVERNMENT:
The new National led government could save as much as five billion dollars a year if they are prepared to address the root cause of its loss, according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin.....more

23rd October 2008
OVER HALF A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF P OFF THE STREETS
The latest Custom’s seizure of the pills used to manufacture P, brings to a total since 2004, of over half a billion dollars worth of P that won’t make its way to users, according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin.....more

6th August 2008
SYSTEMIC FAILINGS CONTRIBUTING TO CHILD ABUSE SHAME
“The hospitalisation of yet another newborn with life threatening injuries is a much a reflection of systemic ineptitude within government and social agencies as it is an indictment of the social decay and violence that now pervades our communities, with one all too common link,” according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin....more

14th July 2008
P IS NOW ENDEMIC - CHANGE OF APPROACH REQUIRED
An admission by Police Minister Annette King in April this year that  "authorities are struggling to win the war against P" is echoed in the most recent Illicit Drug Monitoring Survey, released today according to MethCon Group director Mike Sabin...more

2nd July 2008
NEW ZEALAND 'DOPIER' THAN MOST
New Zealand ranking second only to the United States for cannabis use provides further evidence that our country is descending into the worlds gutters, according to Methcon Group director Mike Sabin...more

28th May 2008
PROVEN SOLUTIONS TO THE 'P' CRISIS PRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT:
Solving the methamphetamine crisis in New Zealand is totally achievable, and will be limited only by a lack of leadership and political will to undertake the changes necessary
... more

11th May 2008
NATIONALS SIGHT'S ON P WILL HIT THE TARGET
Promises made by National leader John Key today to 'crack down on gangs' in the war on P, is a big step in the right direction... more

1st May 2008
ADMISSION FROM GOVERNMENT ABOUT P LONG OVERDUE
The admission by Justice Minister Annette King that "authorities are struggling to win the war against P" is understated and long overdue... more

21st April 2008
THE PRICE OF P - MEASURED IN THE LOST LIVES OF CHILDREN
The loss of another toddlers life under the dark shadow of 'P' highlights a social crisis which is nothing short of a national disgrace ... more

1st April 2008
SMOKE AND MIRRORS OF POLICE STATS MASK THE REAL ISSUES OF VIOLENCE
Looking beneath the veneer of the Police stats on crime for 2007 shows just how endemic the violence caused by meth use has become in New Zealand ... more

31st March 2008
MILLIE ELDER'S CASE HIGHLIGHTS FAILINGS IN THE NZ JUSTICE SYSTEM
Millie Elder's case highlights failings in the New Zealand justice system: The court case and subsequent conviction of Millie Elder serves to highlight the dismal failings of our current justice system to meet the challenges brought about by New Zealand's rampant methamphetamine addiction ... more

20th February 2008
SHOCK METH ADS ARE NEEDED HERE TOO
Claims that shock meth ads don't work and may even encourage use of the drug are simply wrong and proof of their success is something we ignore at the expense of a generation ... more

24th January 2008
PRESS RELEASE: METH CLAN LAB CONTAMINATION
Police in New Zealand have uncovered well over 1000 Methamphetamine Clan Labs across New Zealand within the past 10 years ... more