NZ Young Nats Submission

Submission by

to the

Health Select Committee

on the

Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill (No 2)

22 June 2021

SUBMISSION BY NEW ZEALAND YOUNG NATIONALS (YOUNG NATS) ON THE DRUG AND SUBSTANCE CHECKING LEGISLATION BILL (NO 2).

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Thank you for the opportunity to submit on the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill (No 2), currently before the Parliamentary Health Select Committee.

1.2. We would welcome an opportunity to appear before the committee to speak to our submission.

2.

OVERVIEW

2.1.

In 2019, the Young Nats publicly endorsed the legalisation of drug and substance checking at concerts and festivals in New Zealand following a formal, nationwide consultation process with our membership. Since then, we have continued to publicly advocate for this policy, and supported the Government’s urgent action to establish a legal framework in late 0 0.

2.2.

Young New Zealanders are disproportionately affected by the harm associated with ingesting drugs that contain dangerous additives. Legalising drug and substance checking would enable better education and a reduction in drug-related harm amongst young New Zealanders.

2.3.

This bill removes the legal grey area that drug checking services and event organisers have been operating in for some time. This clarification will increase the confidence and trust in drug and substance checking services enabling better service access and education, therefore reducing harm for a greater number of people.

2.4.

We acknowledge that no drug, no matter how pure, is ‘safe’ to consume. But ingesting drugs laced with additives such as household cleaning products, petroleum, and fentanyl significantly increases risk of injury or death.

3. COMMENT 3.1.

At the core of our support for this bill is the local and international evidence that shows the most used drugs at festivals and events (such as MDMA and LSD) are increasingly being laced with even more harmful adulterants and chemicals, such as household cleaning products, petroleum, and fentanyl. The evidence is clear: drug and substance checking changes people’s behaviour, significantly reduces harm, and saves lives.

3.1.1. A recent government-funded study conducted by Victoria University of Wellington found a strong majority of those who got their drugs tested changed their behaviour in a variety of ways. Of the 105 people surveyed that said they changed their behaviour, 37% decided to only take the drug tested and not pair it with other illicit drugs, 31% took less of the drug than planned, 28% threw out the drugs, and 25% did not pair the drug with alcohol.

3.1.2. The Netherlands introduced drug and substance checking in 1992, and it is now a fundamental part of the country’s drug policy. Government-sanctioned and/or notfor-profit services have also been operating for some time in Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Spain, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. The results in those countries have been unequivocal – all have seen reductions in deaths from overdoses.

3.1.3. Drug checking services also provide a contact point for often difficult-to-reach recreational drug users. This allows service providers to educate on the risks of taking drugs and establishes opportunities to follow up and provide further healthbased interventions.

3.1.4. Drug checking does not normalise drug use. International research shows no link between legalised drug checking and an increase in people taking drugs. Nor does it send the message that taking drugs is ok. Drug checking is just one lever in a broader drug-reform toolbox which focuses on reducing harm through education.

3.2.

The Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill (No 2) is quite a substantial bill, and there are two aspects this submission seeks to cover both to the bill and the system it creates: Ensuring that individuals are given information about reducing harm in a safe and confidential environment.

3.2.1. Drug checking services need to facilitate a safe space that provides privacy for the individual using the service while ensuring they receive information about the harmful effects of drug use. A substance checking service provider (as defined in the Bill) would provide the user with information about the substance without judgement and through a private and discreet service.

3.2.2. It is integral that all drug and substance checking services must not collect or disclose personal information, are not admissible in criminal proceedings and provide informative harm reduction advice. These aspects of the bill ensure that individuals considering utilising drug and substance checking services trust the system and will be more likely to use the service.

3.2.3. We believe clause 35DI, 35DG, and 35DB provide these core functions and assurances necessary for drug and substance checking services to operate effectively.

Licensing regime for drug and substance checking service providers 3.2.4. We support the establishment of a licensing regime for drug and substance checking service providers, (noting that the details as to how this will operate are still under development). A licensing system will provide greater confidence to event organisers and individuals who wish to use drug and substance checking services, and therefore assist in reducing harm for a greater number of people.

3.2.5. This confidence – and the transparency of their services – is further boosted by the requirement that all license holders report on information such as the number of clinics held, the number of tests carried out, test results, and the intentions of an individual after receiving the results. This information will be vital in supporting stakeholders to create and disseminate relevant information to reduce harm, evaluate the use and success of this system, and formulate further reforms to reduce harm and increase safety for young people.

4. CONCLUSION 4.1.

Our submission on this bill is not an endorsement of drug use, but instead an acknowledgement that we must put evidence and the health of young people first.

4.2.

Drug and substance checking has proven to reduce harm and change behaviours. We believe this bill, and the system it will create will reduce drug related harm for young New Zealanders.

4.3.

We thank the committee for considering our submission and we would further welcome an opportunity to submit in person.

Stephanie-Anne Ross President New Zealand Young Nationals

Andrew Mahoney National Policy Chair New Zealand Young Nationals