POLICE WARN OF 'NASTY' DRUG HEADING FOR NZ

AUCKLAND -- Drugs police are warning that the cheapest and nastiest
mind-altering street drug is almost certainly heading for New Zealand.

Ya-ba, Thai street language for "crazy medicine", is thought to be up to 10
times more powerful than Ecstasy and extremely dangerous because it is
seldom made to a set recipe.

Auckland squad head Detective Senior Sergeant Colin McMurtrie said that,
because there was no consistency in the manufacture of the drug, users
seldom knew the strength of the pills they were taking.

The drug became popular overseas as a trendy cheaper alternative to heroin
and Ecstasy after the price of heroin rose with the economic recession in
Asia three years ago. Ya-ba sells for between $30 and $40 a tablet compared
with $80 to $100 a tablet for Ecstasy.

Ya-ba had amphetamine-type properties and often caused users to commit
exceptionally violent crimes, Mr McMurtrie said.

Overseas police had shot dead deranged Ya-ba addicts who "in the midst of
psychosis had killed or attempted to kill innocent strangers", he said.

"Long-term users often experience hallucinogens of bugs crawling on the
skin ... often referred to as Ya-ba bugs. During particularly bad episodes
users may badly injure themselves by trying to scratch or cut out the bugs."

Some users also heard voices telling them others were trying to kill them
and could react by killing innocent people or themselves.

After they came off a high they were often plunged into the depths of
severe depression, making them vulnerable to suicide.

The drug had already reached Australia and Mr McMurtrie said it was
inevitable it would reach New Zealand.