Methamphetamine with Peter Thorburn

Methamphetamine is a Class A illegal drug in Aotearoa which deems it very high risk according to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975. People often turn to methamphetamine use because of mental health issues or unresolved trauma. A lot of users need basic needs to be met because they escape the harsh realities of life when under the influence. Understanding the plethora of reasons why people use will help us better treat our whanau and prevent future generation from abusing drugs. Communication is key to treatment and that we need to treat it like a health issue and not solely as a criminal issue.

On the first of September we had 100 people both from Tamaki and from all over the motu join us for our zoom training with Peter Thorburn. Peter covered the history of methamphetamine in Aotearoa, the P epidemic, the symptoms people have when using it, and useful approaches when to help our whanau who are using. We also learnt the tell-tale signs of someone producing or “cooking” and how the COVID-19 Pandemic influenced the supply and demand of methamphetamine.

Methamphetamine has had a negative influence on many lives in our communities. Family units have been rocked to the core because either one or more member uses it as a coping mechanism. Understanding why people turn to drugs means treatment can better fit the needs of our whanau, and we can better prevent others from going down a similar path. Healthy relationships mean having tough conversations and intervening when we see someone going down a dark path. Sometimes people need to go down a dark path to become amazing, resilient stories of hope. But as many professionals and experts say, “Prevention is best type of treatment”.