Link: https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/nhs-doctor-green-party-drugs-zack-polanski-uk-politics-b2929471.html

• The war on drugs has created a market where drug prices are so much higher than global prices that Mexican Cartels are now targeting New Zealand.
• In less than a year, meth use has tripled in Northland.
• NZDTS results from January 2026 show use increasing and prices falling.
• NZ Drug Foundation details the failures in our Drug Policy in their 2025 report Safer drug laws for Aotearoa New Zealand: Evidence to inform regulatory change
• The cost to keep someone in prison is $552/night or $201,480/yr

I think we should seriously look at the Portugal model. Your article only very briefly mentions it, but it's basically :Decriminalise (personal possession and use of) all drugs, provide safe needles, and most importantly treat addiction as a health problem not a criminal issue. They also required addiction treatment, fining those that refused and confiscating their belongings if they didn't pay, which would be good to see some evidence around before considering implementing it. This article touches on it but also talks about how Potugal fucked up by pulling back on resources spent on it and saw unraveling of their success.

As your article mentions, simply decriminalising it so people feel comfortable discussing their addiction with a doctor would go a long way. Your article also mentions another challenge, which is that opponents deliberately misrepresent what decriminalising means in order to scare people into their side, something I'm sure happens in NZ too.,

They've had wonderful success with it too