HARD DRUGS PREVALENT IN SC, SAYS FORMER ADDICT

Isaac Wilson looks gets an insight into the drug scene in South
Canterbury. Intravenous and hard drug use is increasing in South
Canterbury with many users making their own crude forms of heroin,
says a former addict.

The former user, who declined to be named out of fear for her safety,
said hard drugs were prevalent in South Canterbury.

"Most South Canterbury residents would be surprised to find out what
is going on out there. Everything is out there, anything you want."

She was speaking out after being clean for a year, following a
10-year involvement in the local drug scene.

In those 10 years the group she moved in grew from just a handful, to
upwards of 50-60 people.

"That's just the circle I associated with, there would have been lots
of others out there as well," she said.

Associates were between the ages of 16-60 and were from all walks of life.

Most drugs were easily accessible and had been for a long time.

"Ten years ago when I first got involved it was easier to score hard
drugs like heroin and morphine than it was to score a bullet of smoke
(cannabis)."

She said the local methadone programme now had a waiting list after
years of not having one.

Health South Canterbury's alcohol and drug assessment centre refused
to comment.

The Timaru Needle Exchange is emptying a 22-litre container filled
with used syringes every three months.

When the exchange opened nearly four years ago, the bottom of the
container was lucky to be covered with dirty needles on collection
day.

However, filling the container may only be a reflection of more local
users following safe drug practices.

Manager Paula Harris said the centre had about 180 visits a month,
many of which were repeat customers. In its first three months the
centre recorded 220 visits, many of which were also repeats.

The shop's hours of opening have also increased by two hours a day
and it now opens for an hour on Sunday.

Ms Harris said it was looking at increasing its hours again.

Out Reach worker Jan Thomas said the exchange filled a need in the community.

She was reluctant to say how many people used the service or comment
on the increase in patronage.

"Let's just say we are following national trends, which are
increasing and are expected to get bigger."

Ms Thomas said the ages of people using the service was between
18-35, although there were a few customers in the older age group.

The exchange was opened after staff at the Christchurch exchange
reported South Canterbury users were travelling to use its service.

Timaru sergeant Graham Hall said police were finding more needles
when executing search warrants on properties.

"We're finding them (needles) a lot more now. We found two under a
cushion on a couch the other day."

Morphine sulphate tablets (used in the manufacturing of heroin) and
LSD have been available in Timaru for a number of years, he said.

"There is a really well known market in morphine sulphate tablets in
Timaru. It can be broken down into liquid and injected, or taken a
step further and converted into heroin."

However, the drug that police are keeping a close eye on is methamphetamine.

The white powder was causing problems in larger cities around the
country and it was only a matter of time before it would become a
problem for Timaru.

"Timaru is behind the times on the drug scene, but we can expect some
of the problems facing larger cities within the next three to four
years".

Police were keeping Timaru's supply of methamphetamine under control
with regular tip-offs from informants, he said.

However, because it could pass for a number of household ingredients
it made the control harder.