PASTOR SHARES DRUG EXPERIENCE

In-depth drug education is giving participants of an anti-drug seminar
plenty to ponder.

The event in Panmure last Friday promoted the United Nations
International Day against Drug Abuse with speakers from agencies,
church groups and government-funded bodies.

It was hosted by the Drug-Free Ambassadors, an Auckland-based group
sponsored by the Church of Scientology.

There are an estimated 200 million users of illicit drugs
worldwide.

Marie Cotter of MethWatch, who launched the anti-P march to Parliament
in 2005, talked about the need for government to confront the issues
involved in combating the proliferation of drugs in New Zealand.

She said her battle was in getting funding to help educate people
about what methamphetamine or P and other drugs do to the bodies and
minds of users.

"A lot of people think it has nothing to do with them until it is too
late. It is heartbreaking to see a loved one hooked on P and as a
society there must be more effective ways to address these problems."

Greg Asplin, clinical team leader of Community Alcohol and Drug
Services in Panmure, told the seminar that on a recent trip to
Vancouver, Canada, he saw drugs being openly dealt on the streets and
people using heroin in alleyways. He said drug education is needed at
various levels to prevent such things happening in New Zealand.

Pastor Tony Romero from the Victory Outreach Church, a Los
Angeles-based movement which is helping people to come off drugs, said
his life was saved as a young Los Angeles gang member.

He hopes to help people facing similar problems through his Christian
beliefs.

Victory Outreach, based in Otara, helps young people change their
lives and choose a more spiritual life over drugs and crime.

Niuean Community Church pastor and Panmure town security guard Taoa
Folekene described the growing influence of illicit drugs on Pacific
Island communities.

He said educating young people about drugs was the first necessary
step to halt drug abuse in the community.

The seminar also heard from Drug-Free Ambassadors member Mo McLeary.
He says 10 booklets on the most commonly abused drugs in society are
providing an effective education tool.

The booklets provide information on what drugs do to people and are
being circulated around the world.

"The real terrorism in our society is illicit drug use," Mr McLeary
says.

"It claims more innocent lives and ruins more families than virtually
anything else. Widespread education can change this."