PRINCIPAL SAYS SPEED POISED TO RUIN LIVES

A Waikato high school principal has warned that students are using
"pure" - a form of speed - at parties, and it may hit school
playgrounds soon.

Morrinsville College principal John Inger said he published
information in a school newsletter about the crystal methamphetamine,
known as P or pure, so parents could be wary of it.

He did not want to appear alarmist; so far the drug had not been found
at school.

"I do know that unless something happens about it [the drug], it will
be in our schools before too long," Mr Inger said.

He said the drug "scared him to death" because it was highly addictive
and could cause people to become aggressive, paranoid, depressed and
suicidal.

Police say crystal methamphetamine - which resembles rock salt - is
readily available at some student parties, but only a minority of
older students have used it.

A Hamilton detective, who could not be named because he works in the
drug scene, said the purity of the drug was being lowered so it could
be sold to high school students for about $30 instead of about $100.

He said it was the worst drug students could take because it was so
dangerous and highly addictive.

It also caused violent behaviour.

"It's always available. Thinking they [students] are not going to use
it is naive," the detective said.

Care NZ, which provides alcohol and drug counselling for students at
three Hamilton secondary schools as well as Huntly College and
Ngaruawahia High School, said its counsellors were dealing with more
students who had experimented with the drug.

"It's important to recognise that it's something that is escalating
towards younger people," Care NZ manager Stephen King said.

The Herald revealed last week that Kaitaia College in Northland wanted
to test aggressive students to check if they were using
methamphetamine.