FEWER DRUG CONVICTIONS AS USE GROWS

The number of convictions for drug offences has dropped 13 per cent
over the past 10 years despite the use of drugs increasing.

The falling conviction rate is largely due to a decrease in cannabis
convictions, although convictions for hard-drug crime have nearly doubled.

Figures released this week by Statistics New Zealand show 3389
convictions were made for cannabis-related offences in 2006, compared
with 6289 in 1997.

There were 1189 convictions relating to other drugs _ more than
double the 528 in 1997.

Detective Senior Sergeant David Long, chief of the Christchurch drug
squad, said use of drugs was rising "exponentially".

"I think there are more resources going into tackling serious drug
problems with meth (methamphetamine or P), and we have to devote them
for a longer period of time before we conduct an arrest," he said.

"If the overall number of arrests has dropped, I wouldn't think the
amount of drug use has reduced at all."

He said the police focused more on the "serious" drugs, but cannabis
was still considered harmful because it was stronger than it had been.

"Maybe the sentences the court gives now for minor possession of
cannabis are reflective of society's view of it," he said.

Long said the number of convictions needed to be balanced against the
amount of reported drug crime for which police could take no action.

The Statistics New Zealand figures draw a distinction between
cannabis and drugs such as methamphetamine, ecstasy and cocaine.

Ross Bell, executive director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation,
said the figures could indicate a change in attitude to drugs.

"I think it has been a natural thing that drug-enforcement agencies
recognise it is more important to focus on drugs like meth than
cannabis," Bell said.

"The police need to make a judgment about what they prioritise."

The chief executive of the Alcohol and Drug Association New Zealand,
Kate Kearney, said alternatives to convicting drug users should be used.

"Research shows that coercion is the best way," she said. "Even
people who are resistant to treatment in the first place will stick
with a programme."