POLICE WORRIED 'TINNY HOUSES' ARE DIVERSIFYING

Police are concerned operators of "tinny houses" are offering free
samples of such drugs as P (pure methamphetamine) to try to lure
customers into the more dangerous substances.

Tinny houses are commonly known for selling marijuana but police say
they have information some houses are "diversifying" and offering P in
a bid to hook customers into the more lucrative drug.

Christchurch police drug squad head Detective Sergeant Dave Long said
it was likely some marijuana dealers had been forced to switch to
drugs such as P to maximise profits.

"Some will give a free sample of methamphetamine because there is a
lot more money to be made in selling methamphetamine. "They are always
looking to diversify and go with the market," he said.

All drugs had dangers but substances such as P were of particular
concern.

"There's no question about it - if they are trying to introduce them
to a new commodity it's a concern."

Long estimated there were 15 to 20 tinny houses operating in
Christchurch.

They were hard to track as they were operated by different groups and
often shifted to prevent detection, he said.

"Sometimes they are run by organised syndicates, sometimes they are
run by individuals, and sometimes they are organised by gangs.

"We target them from time to time ... but they shift quite
regularly."

Anti-drug groups did not feel the giving of free drugs from tinny
houses was a widespread issue.

New Zealand Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said he was
aware of few cases of tinny houses giving away methamphetamine.

The 2005 Illicit Drug Monitoring System survey found only 9 per cent
of tinny house users had been offered other drugs by the seller, he
said.

"And only 2% of methamphetamine users reported buying from a tinny
house. Most buy it from friends."

There was little evidence to prove marijuana was a precursor to more
serious substances, he said.

"The main gateway drugs are alcohol and tobacco."

Alcohol Drug Association chief executive Cate Kearney agreed, but
acknowledged exposure to one type of drug opened more opportunities to
see others.

"If you have to go to an environment to find illegal substances there
is a possibility there will be other illegal substances around that
environment," she said.

A 2003 study by the Christchurch School of Medicine found 71% of 14 to
15-year-olds who used cannabis weekly had used other drugs.