Why does New Zealand ignore its drug addiction issue?

New Zealand has cultivated a positive image for itself as one of the best places to live globally. However, the reality is not as idyllic as it may seem. Despite its reputation, all three major cities in New Zealand have areas known for high levels of criminal activity and gang presence. If you are looking to raise a family in a safe environment and want to shield your children from drug-related issues, New Zealand may not be the best choice. The country has experienced a significant loss of its young population due to drug addiction, with a large number of young people relying on government benefits to sustain their drug habits.

Methamphetamine is a powerful, highly addictive stimulant that affects the central nervous system. It is one of the most widely used drugs by youngsters in NZ. Other drugs, including cannabis and cocaine, are also easily available to addicts. Drug addiction and joblessness among the youth have led to an increase in street violence, theft, and attacks on gas stations, stores, and other businesses. Unfortunately, the police are also not well equipped to deal with the problem due to understaffing and lack of resources. Addiction is not a new problem in the country, though it has never been scrutinized by the international media. In some cases, the three generations of the same family have ruined their lives by consuming drugs like Methmethaphine.

Sometimes one wonders how hard it can be for professional police and detectives to interrogate drug users properly and find out who sells them the drug. In a tiny country of around five million people, where govt maintains health records and all other crucial about each and every citizen, it can’t be too difficult to nab the smugglers and end the drug menace in the country. It will save countless lives and bring happiness to the affected families. Unfortunately, the Kiwis are blind to the problem. One of the possible reasons, the New Zealand govt ignores the problem, possible is, that addiction mostly affects the Pacific and Maori populations. The smoking rate is also a lot higher in marginalized communities. The National govt known for ignoring the concerns of the Maori community, refused to make NZ smoke-free, as they are aware money from the smoker's pockets fills the govt coffers in the short run. However, in the long run, govt will end up spending far more in maintaining healthcare to deal with ailments intensifying due to smoking.

All over the globe, people drink alcohol and smoke cigarettes. They are part of culture and society, but the use of banned drugs is destroying the young population in this country. And political parties must make it their priority to save them. New Zealand is changing at a very rapid pace. The economy of the country is mostly dependent on farming, dairy, and food processing. There are not many opportunities for the young and ambitious Kiwis. Presently 2000 Kiwis are moving to Australia every month. As the NZ economy is struggling, the net outflow of people is likely to increase as well. It is very painful to see that a large number of youngsters are losing their ability to become contributing members of society and are losing the most productive days of their lives inundated with drugs. 

A referendum was conducted a couple of years ago about legalizing cannabis in the country. The proposal was defeated by a small margin, but there was overwhelming support among the youngsters. It is very surprising that people in this country don’t consider cannabis as a harmful drug, but merely as a recreational drug for relaxation and reducing stress and anxiety. The connection between poverty and crime is not uncommon in the world, NZ is not an exception to that pattern. It is also an unfortunate fact that the non-white population is more affected by addiction. The government must prioritize and adopt a combative mode to deal with smugglers and drug peddlers. The immigrant community, that came to this country hoping for a safe environment to raise their kids, should remain vigilant. They must educate their kids and use all tools at their disposal, including the faith, to enlighten or spread awareness so that their children remain aware of drug addiction and peer pressure in schools. So far, there are no signs of the NZ government prioritizing the deal with the addiction problem, possibly because the Maori and the Pacific populations are mostly affected by it, not the Caucasians. It is not fair to view everything from a race perspective, but it is also not fair to ignore it when it is staring at your face.

[Mukesh Devrari]