DRUGGED DRIVING 'A SERIOUS THREAT'

Driving under the influence of drugs is "at least as big a problem" as
drink-driving, with drug users admitting to potentially deadly
behaviour behind the wheel, a study has found.

Massey University's illicit drug survey, made public today, comes as a
bill to give police greater powers to catch drugged drivers is set to
be debated in Parliament next week. It is the first time in-depth
drug-driving data has been collected in New Zealand.

Most of the 404 frequent drug users interviewed by the university's
Centre for Social and Health Outcomes in Auckland said they drove
under the influence.

Researcher Chris Wilkins said the key difference from drink-drivers
was that drug users believed they were unlikely to be detected if
stopped by police.

A "high proportion" also admitted driving too fast, losing
concentration, running red lights, getting angry at other motorists
and nearly hitting something.

"We found that drug use and driving is at least as big a problem as
alcohol and driving," Dr Wilkins said.

"People need to be made aware that driving under the influence of
[illegal drugs] is just as big a risk to themselves and others."

Police can request a field impairment test to check pupil dilation and
physical co-ordination and a blood test from someone even if they pass
a breathalyser test.

But the Land Transport Amendment Bill seeks to give police wider
powers to prosecute drugged drivers, including making impairment tests
compulsory and lowering the threshold for determining if a person is
incapable of driving.

Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the proposed law was "a top
priority", and it is expected to be passed this month.

"This survey proves that, like drink-driving, [drugged driving] is a
serious threat on our roads and must be treated as such," he said.

Dr Wilkins said there could also be more education campaigns around
the dangers of drugged driving.

For Malcolm Barnett, step-father of Krystal Bennett, 18, the findings
proved something he already knew deep down.

Ms Bennett was killed when a car driven by Leah Wai Peneha, then 19,
who was high on methamphetamine, ploughed into her car on Hutt
Valley's River Rd in 2005.

"There's public awareness around texting, tiredness and speed but
people have got to realise driving on drugs is as bad as driving drunk."

Dr Wilkins' study also found fewer people using P as prices rose the
cost of a gram had gone up from $610 in 2006 to $698 last year.

However, use of ecstasy was increasing as it became cheaper, and may
also be influenced by P's bad reputation.

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THE DRUGS & THE TRENDS

Methamphetamine

Fewer people using P as the price increases and it becomes harder to
get. The price for a gram had risen from $610 in 2006 to $698 last
year and police busts saw the number of P labs drop from 190 in 2007
to 133 last year. Ad Feedback

Ecstasy

Use increasing as it becomes cheaper, which may also be influenced by
the bad reputation of P. The price of a pill had fallen from $59 to
$55 between 2006 and 2008.

Cannabis

It continues to be widely used and is thought to be easier to get than
in previous years.

LSD

It has been in decline over the past decade but remains popular in the
dance party scene. It was considered to be more available than in 2006.

Opiates

Street morphine and methadone use remained stable. But the Police
Association says people are turning to "homebake" heroin, made from
codeine, as users try to avoid threats and debts to organised crime.

Cocaine

Still difficult to obtain but thought to be more available and of
better quality than in the past.

Benzylpiperazine (BZP)

A considerable decline in BZP use since it was outlawed last year.