BOOZE AND POT BIGGER PROBLEM THAN P IN WAIRARAPA

Alcohol and cannabis remain the big drug problem in Wairarapa despite
increasing concern about P, pure methamphetamine, a local drug and
alcohol service says.

Wairarapa Alcohol and Drug Service manager and counsellor Mary Freeman
said alcohol and cannabis provided the bulk of their clients, although
P was becoming more of a problem.

"Certainly it is over the last six months. We still don't have huge
numbers presenting wanting to get off P. We've probably had about 10
in the last six months," Ms Freeman said.

"Dad sitting at home and having his gins and then abusing mum and the
kids is far more of a problem."

Her comments come amid revelations that Steven Williams, convicted
yesterday of killing his six-year-old stepdaughter, had been on a
P-fuelled bender the night before.

However; "alcohol is still the main drug that causes the community and
families the most trouble," Ms Freeman said.

She said cannabis, which grew easily in Wairarapa is also a major
problem.

P did have its own specific problems due to the extremes it
caused.

"With the P, any drug that makes people feel so good when they are on
it will make them feel so bad when they come off it."

Ms Freeman said nationally, about 10 per cent of people were alcohol
or drug-dependent.

She urged people with problems to seek help.

P has been connected with several high-profile killers, including RSA
triple-murderer William Bell, Ese Junior Falealii who killed a bank
teller and a pizza worker last year and Auckland man Antonie Dixon who
is accused of the murder and attempted murder after allegedly slicing
the hands off two women with a sword.