5. JILL PETTIS (Labour) Link to this
to the Associate Minister of Health
What action is the Government taking to protect New Zealanders against harmful substances?
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Associate Minister of Health) Link to this
The Labour-Progressive Government takes a multi-pronged approach to protecting New Zealanders from harmful legal, as well as illegal, substances. Our approach under the National Drug Policy is to put in place measures to reduce the supply of drugs, reduce the demand for those drugs, and treat those who are the victims of those substances. The list of actions taken by this Government is far too long for me to read out in the House today. However, the latest action was the introduction of legislation into this House yesterday to ban benzylpiperazine and related party pills—legislation supported by research, expert opinion, and an overwhelming number of members in this House.
Has the Minister been asked to refer any other substances to the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs?
Yes, I have. Recently I received a letter from a National member in this House asking whether the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs would consider the substance dihydrogen monoxide, which may have been described to her as colourless, odourless, tasteless, and causing the death of uncounted thousands of people every year, and withdrawal from which, for those who become dependent on it, means certain death. I had to respond that the experts had no intention of doing so, because the substance in question was water. I seriously doubt that the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs would want to spend any time evaluating that substance.