Guyon Espiner: Wasted

After half a century of waging war on drugs, dozens of countries have called a truce. They now view harmful drug use as a health matter, aiming to help people out of addiction, instead of punishing them. 

In New Zealand, though, we are yet to lay down our arms. With a few exceptions, drug use remains a criminal, rather than a health matter. 

In Wasted, an RNZ documentary, Guyon Espiner finds there are few signs the punitive approach is really working. 

Two tonnes of drugs have been stopped at the border in 2022. Back in the 1990s, it was considered a big deal for Customs to seize a single kilogram. 

The human toll, meanwhile, continues to climb. Around $8.5 million a week is spent by people using methamphetamine. 

The alternative, an approach being tried with the Te Ara Oranga rehabilitation programme in Northland, has the endorsement of local police, social services and community leaders. 

“What is the benefit of prosecuting them,” asks Whangarei detective Shane Pilmer, who works on the programme. 

“We are better off trying to help them to get off the drug and stop them being a drug user and help them to turn their life around.” 

Te Ara Oranga has resulted in a 34 percent drop in criminal offending by those who take part.    

For some of them, the different approach changed their lives. They share their stories in Guyon Espiner: Wasted.