An archive of recent news articles on the topic of alcohol and drugs.
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War on smoking moves to new battlegrounds
31st May 2011
More than half a century after scientists uncovered the link between smoking and cancer - triggering a war between health campaigners and the cigarette industry - big tobacco is thriving. Despite the known catastrophic effects on health of smoking, profits from tobacco continue to soar and sales of cigarettes have increased: they have risen from 5,000 billion sticks a year in the 1990s to 5,900 billion a year in 2009. They now kill more people annually than alcohol, Aids, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined.
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Police seize rare party drug
31st May 2011
A powerful party drug rarely seen in New Zealand that can cause intense hallucinations and paranoia has been seized in a record $4.5 million haul. Dimethyltryptamine, also called DMT, is also the main psychoactive ingredient in ayahuasca, an Amazonian brew used for healing purposes. The Class-A narcotic is smoked through a glass pipe in powder form, like methamphetamine, with a vapour compared to burning plastic. DMT can also be injected.
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Rehab, not jail for drug court crims
26th May 2011
Offenders with serious drug and alcohol problems could get a chance to go to rehab instead of jail if a new drug court pilot goes ahead. The Law Commission recommended the establishment of a drug court pilot that would see sentencing delayed while offenders underwent rehabilitation and detoxification treatment. A spokesman for Justice Minister Simon Power said the Justice Ministry was working with other government agencies, including the Health Ministry, and would report back on the cost effectiveness and funding availability for the programme.
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Don't smoke, tobacco boss tells his kids
26th May 2011
A father of three discouraging his children from smoking isn't normally a newsworthy event. But when it's British American Tobacco Australia boss David Crow, parents sit up and take notice. "I tell them not to do it, not to smoke at all," he said this week in Sydney during a rare media appearance. Advertisement: Story continues below Asked why, the chief executive of the company behind popular cigarette brands such as Winfield, Benson & Hedges and Dunhill gave a straightforward answer.
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11-year-old girl living in meth lab
25th May 2011
Police have found an 11-year-old girl living in a "significant sized" methamphetamine lab in the western Bay of Plenty. The lab was discovered when officers and the Armed Offender Squad carried out a search at a Te Puke house yesterday. They arrested and charged a 35-year-old man with manufacturing and supplying methamphetamine.
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Police targeting boozy after-balls
25th May 2011
Police and liquor authorities are cracking down on boozy school after-ball parties, with new hardline plans to stop students from taking buses to secret locations. The new approach comes after a number of after-balls turned sour last year and 15 others were cancelled because of concerns over drunken behaviour. The after-balls - often all-you-can drink events for which tickets are sold - are usually held in warehouses.
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Fatal crash: Booze, speed and no licence
24th May 2011
Booze, speed and driving without a licence - this combination appeared to be behind last night's death of a young man racing to the beach to watch the sunset. The 23-year-old driver was believed to have lost control on a corner as he raced another car towards Muriwai Beach, north west of Auckland, on a stretch of road locals say is treated like a "racetrack". Another man and two women - believed to be aged between 18 and 23 - were injured in the crash.
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Nightclub reconsiders age limit after assault on teenager
24th May 2011
An inner-city nightclub is looking to change its age restrictions for men after a serious assault on the footpath outside left a teenager unconscious. Damon Matthews, 18, was attacked in Wyndham St when he tried to break up a fight that started when a group was refused entry to the Pyramid Night Club. Four men have been charged in relation to the fight on May 5 and appeared in the Auckland District Court yesterday.
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Customs' seizures net rare drug
19th May 2011
A big haul of a rarely seen class A drug detected at Auckland Mail Centre was among five significant drug seizure made by Customs this month. In Blenheim, Christchurch-based officers arrested a 21-year-old man after mail - bound for Blenheim and containing the rarely seen class A controlled drug dimethylltryphamine (DMT) - was detected at the mail centre in Auckland. The package contained 18kg of DMT, which was similar to LSD, said a Customs spokeswoman. Previously small interceptions had been noted in New Zealand, however this was the largest on record.
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Tobacco group threatens price cut over new laws
18th May 2011
The tobacco industry is squaring off for another bruising round in its war against the federal Government and health and anti-smoking groups, warning it may slash the price of cigarettes by up to a half if plain packaging is introduced. Legislation banning all branding and forcing companies to sell smokes only in matt olive green packets - shown by research to be the most repulsive colour - will be introduced to Parliament soon.
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