“Have a safe trip! Your handy guide to happy drug taking” is an article by The Spinoff which should be reported to Police (and the Minister of Police) for its irresponsible promotion of drug use. It’s not the first time the media have published drug-friendly articles, but this one takes things to a new level. It’s possibly the most irresponsible article we’re read on this subject.
The article opens with “Planning to take illicit drugs this summer? You’re not alone – hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders will, despite the fact that (gasp!) drugs are still illegal.” So it’s obvious where The Spinoff stand on this matter – they’re effectively promoting drug use and mocking the fact that (gasp) … drugs are still illegal in this country. Thankfully these harmful drugs are still illegal in New Zealand, because they’re extremely dangerous and addictive. Drug-avoidance is the only safe option.
While the Spinoff article attempts to give some “safety tips” it’s mostly about promoting drug-use rather than drug-avoidance. The article even compares coffee to MDMA, stating that neither is 100% safe. This is an absurd and dangerous comparison to make… having a morning coffee is nothing like popping party pills containing MDMA (and who knows what other substances are in those pills).
Here are some other excerpts from this Spinoff article:
“when it comes to illicit substances, a little planning goes a long way.”
“The truth is, no drug use is 100% safe. From coffee to MDMA, every substance comes with risks.”
“If you visit a drug checking service, they can help you figure out the right dose.”
“When taking a substance for the first time, start low and go slow. Remember – you can always take more, but you can’t take less.”
“Figure out what kind of things you want to do, where you want to go, and how you want to take your drugs.”
“Route of administration is the technical term for “what hole does it go in?” The safest ROA is different for each substance and dosage, so do your research.”
“the few days after taking a substance are a great time to integrate your experience. Some drugs have a “critical period” ranging from about 12 to 72 hours after ingestion where the brain is more neuroplastic – this is the time to try to embed your new learnings and experiences into your normal life.”
The 2 most popular “party drugs” are cocaine and MDMA (marketed as Ecstasy). More and more kiwis are also consuming Methamphetamine (P). All of these drugs are extremely dangerous and carry significant health risks. Cocaine can lead to dangerous heart issues, including heart attacks and strokes, as well as long-term damage to the brain, liver, and kidneys. It also increases the risk of addiction and severe psychological effects such as anxiety, paranoia, and hallucinations. MDMA can cause extreme dehydration, overheating, and electrolyte imbalances, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions like heatstroke and serotonin-syndrome. Long-term drug use can result in cognitive deficits, mood disorders, and a weakened immune system. Methamphetamine (P) use is even more dangerous and addictive, causing long-term, irreversible harm to both physical and mental health.
The media regularly write “drug-friendly” articles, and of course they were found to be very much in favour of legalising marijuana leading up to the 2020 cannabis referendum. Fortunately Kiwis voted against legalising marijuana, however this hasn’t stopped the media from continually trying to normalise drug-taking. This latest article by The Spinoff is the worst yet, so we encourage you write a complaint to Police and your local MP.
It’s time that our media cease promoting drug use and focus instead on sharing the harms caused by these illicit drugs.
*Commentary by Family First staff writers.