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TREATMENT CLINICS A COMMUNITY ASSET New psychoactive drugs will only be available from drug counsellors. This was the promise of social tonics industry pioneer Matt Bowden, of Stargate International at Auckland City Council's Local Approved Products Policy submissions hearing. Mr Bowden has lobbied consistently for a number of years for a mandatory policy of clinicians in licensed psychoactive retailers but to date no formal qualification has been required in the retail sector, leading to drug developer Stargate making it a condition of retail supply. "The person between the customer and the pills needs to be a qualified alcohol and drug clinician, full stop," said Mr Bowden. "Drugs should be retailed similarly to medicines, not alcohol. Let's take the opportunity to assess whether the customer is in a responsible use phase, or problem use phase, and offer treatment options for customers that need it." Responding to concerns from other submitters that previously banned synthetic cannabinoids would return, he pointed to the low risk safety threshold in the Psychoactive Substances Act. Low risk meant approved products would have to be non addictive, unlikely to cause death in overdose, non toxic to brain or other organs, and wouldn't produce anti-social behaviours. "There are a lot of fears in the community as some untested legal highs in the past were addictive or too strong and people are concerned that this will happen again, but those old products will never make it through testing. The ones that do should be safer than aspirin." Mr Bowden said leading academics around the world were working on safer alternatives to alcohol, and Stargate were focusing on benign, pleasant products which plateau in effect, discouraging abusive behaviours. He pointed to Stargate's own safety record of zero fatalities amongst tens of millions of exposures in 17 years of business and zero adverse events from New Zealand designed products during the problematic interim period. "The legislation is only half the picture, what we build on top of it is equally as important. I am planning a chain of not for profit clinics, which use the money people spend on safer drug alternatives to subsidise advanced treatment for those who have had enough and want to get off the bus." He did not oppose any geographical restrictions on outlets, offering to consult with council on the best location for a pilot study. "All I ask is that you allow me to open one clinic, and you tell me where you want it, and our clinicians will begin assessing each person that comes in the door, checking their medical history and monitoring their usage and if people come with alcohol or other drug problems we will provide treatment free of charge. If you like the social outcomes from the first clinic, then tell us where to place another one, then talk to the other councils. Together let's talk to cities around the world because these clinics will be true community assets and this picture of government and community minded entrepreneurs working together is what we want people to see when they look at New Zealand, this will be Auckland City's contribution to drug policy." NOTES: New Zealand's Psychoactive Substances Act is the first of its kind in the world, establishing an evidence based risk management system for products consumed by individuals to change their mood, based on safety standards for pharmaceutical medicines. The legislation came about after New Zealand scientists began researching safer non addictive alternatives to methamphetamine in the late 1990s. Researchers identified a consumer trend away from illegal drugs toward the safer alternatives, prompting a review of the Misuse of Drugs Act by the Law Commission, whose recommendations formed the Psychoactive Substances Act in 2013, a bill voted in with a 119-1 majority.
Press Releases Pre-2011 Stargate founder
Matt Bowden was heavily involved in the public
conversation around drug regulation in New Zealand up
to 2011, after which time he passed the public
engagement torch to The
Star Trust. Many press releases
from that period are catalogued below. To view and print the
documents, you will need a copy of the Adobe Acrobat
Reader.
2011
STATEMENT BY MATT
BOWDEN CONCERNING TEMPORARY CLASS DRUG NOTICE "The Government's decision to ban synthetic cannabinoids will send the legal high industry to a place I don't want to go," said Mr Bowden. Mr Bowden said that while the synthetic cannabinoids his company had imported were safe and had never caused a single reported fatality, consumers would be much safer if they had been properly regulated as restricted substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act. "The Government has said it will now play regulatory cat and mouse with these products. That means fly-by-night products with short production runs, low safety standards and still no regulations. I don't want any part of that. I was looking forward to heading in the opposite direction towards product screening, routine safety tests and restricted outlets," said Mr Bowden. Mr Bowden said that it was disappointing that the Government had passed up the chance to regulate synthetic cannabinoids when it had the chance. "The Government received a recommendation from the EACD last year to make synthetic cannabinoids a restricted substance, which would have placed a range of restrictions on how those products were sold, such as limiting their sale to over-18s and controlling where they can be sold and how they are advertised. The Government should have acted faster to control the sale of synthetic cannabinoids." Mr Bowden welcomed the confirmation from the Prime Minister Hon John Key and Associate Health Minister Hon Peter Dunne that the Government would be working to implement the Law Commission's recommendations on regulating new psychoactives. "I may continue with
non-alcoholic alternatives when the Government gets
the regulation for new drugs right. Until then, I am
going to work on lobbying worldwide for safer drug
policies, finishing my epic rock album, working with
new artists, getting my live show out. The papers have
said that I do put on the best parties in the country
at my rock concerts, so I will continue doing just
that: cross-pollinating theatre, rock, circus, opera
and dance parties into a really good night out." PROPOSED REFORM OF
MISUSE OF DRUGS ACT WELL OVERDUE SAYS BOWDEN "Last night the Minister said that he would be introducing further regulatory controls on synthetic cannabinoids to those in place for restricted substances by Supplementary Order Paper to the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill. That's a good start, but what I really want to see is the Government getting on and enacting the Law Commission's regulatory regime for new psychoactives." Mr Bowden said he agreed with Minister Dunne that amendments to the current Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 were a stopgap at best, and the sooner the new regulatory regime was in place the better. Mr Bowden said that implementing the Law Commission's recommendations was in the best interests of both consumers and the industry. "Rigorous regulation will keep the cowboys out of the industry and establish high standards. I am strongly in favour of establishing such standards. They will ensure consumers can choose from a range of safe products." A summary of how a
new psychoactive would come to market if the
Government adopts the Law Commission's recommendations
is attached. STATEMENT
BY MATT BOWDEN ON BRIEFING ABOUT SYNTHETIC
CANNABINOIDS BY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND RESEARCH STATEMENT BY STARGATE
OPERATIONS LIMITED
2010
Social Tonics Chairman and
Drug Policy Activist Matt Bowden said today that the
DMAA overdose reported by Christchurch hospital doctor
Paul Gee in the New Zealand Medical Journal last week is
a classic case of history repeating itself. 2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
It is with deep regret that we announce the passing on of one of our beloved senior advisors, Doctor Steve worked with Stargate and AngelCare teams as a Clinical Director and Senior Harm Reduction consultant and passed away peacefully on 28th March 2006 following complications from a head injury sustained in a car crash some years earlier.
The world is all the better for those rare, selfless people with both the ability and the willingness to connect with and help other people who are in despair or who have hit rock bottom. These counsellors, clinicians and treatment specialists dedicate their lives to saving and restoring the lives of others. They are true heroes of our communities and it is with terrible sadness that we mark the passing of one of the finest. Dr Steve Miller was a Senior Lecturer at Auckland Institute of Technology and a Head of Section at Massey University where he developed the mental health component of the first nursing degree syllabus at a New Zealand technical institute. Steve developed many training manuals for nursing and mental health which are still in use today. Steve?s calm and compassionate nature allowed him to connect with people from all walks of life and put them at ease. Steve?s unique ability to foster trust in others was critical to his counselling success, particularly in the fields of addiction and mental health. I first met Steve after researching nutritional supplements to restore the body?s homeostasis after drug usage and was surprised to learn that Steve had carried out work in this area and was now living in New Zealand, working as a Psychologist. He took a personal interest in our vision to deliver drug treatment, first aid and counselling services into nightclubs and dance parties, and in developing safer alternatives as part of a treatment program. It brought me great joy to see Steve, an American born Kiwi, attending some of the dance music festivals here - always holding a crowd, regaling today's young people with tales of the Woodstock Festival ? the ultimate dance party of his own youth - which helped him establish an instant rapport. Steve has a strong personal mana, or presence. Everybody listened when he spoke, and he was able to exert considerable influence on today's youth. Steve was particularly interested in what Stargate was trying to do in the area of minimising drug-related harm and breaking addictions, and over time his teachings came to have a profound influence on the Stargate philosophy. Steve played a critical role in working with the Stargate team in the development of safer alternatives and treatment protocols for drug users and addicts. He became a driving force behind the AngelCare Charitable Trust which, through its dance-party presence, has saved lives and made a difference to many young New Zealanders. At all times Steve?s approach was driven by empathy, compassion and an absolute refusal to pass judgement. Steve pioneered significant research into treating methamphetamine users through the use of nutritional biochemistry to restore their homeostasis while in Hawaii. Between 1985 and 1990, the time of a crystal methamphetamine, crack and cocaine epidemic in Hawaii, Steve ran a crisis response team, dealing with an avalanche of drug-related mental heath crises ? threatened suicides, overdoses, psychoses. This experience abroad would stand him in good stead for the arrival of our own crystal methamphetamine problem. In New Zealand he was at the front line of the ?P epidemic?. In his own time he frequently staffed Stargate?s ?Stop P? 0800 counselling helpline for people trying to break methamphetamine addictions. It was not uncommon for Steve, on a completely voluntary basis, to take calls through this service and talk to various people with various addictions for up to 24 hours. It was a service he actively promoted to doctors and health professionals across the country. During his research in Hawaii, Steve found that there were simple ways to reduce some of the suffering for methamphetamine users through nutritional supplementation. We're now carrying on that work. Steve was particularly unusual in that his rare ability to connect meaningfully with all kinds people was supported by his comprehensive professional qualifications. Steve graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from New York University and a Master of Science in Nursing and PhD in Psychology from Kennedy Western University in California. Steve got full funding for his PhD work as a member of a State-wide mobile mental health crisis response team. Steve first arrived in New Zealand in 1990 and immediately went about earning the respect of his peers and colleagues. He was elected Vice-President and Counsellor of the New Zealand Branch of the Australia and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses from 1995 to 1997 and appointed Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses in 1996. Steve was appointed as the first New Zealand member to the editorial staff of the Australia and New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing between 1996 and 2000 and was listed in the International Directory of Distinguished Leadership (3rd Ed) for Contributions in Program Development for Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and Addictions. Steve was awarded two service medals by the State of Hawaii in 1997 and 1998; three Service Awards by the University of Hawaii (1987,1988 and 1989) for Service to the people of Hawaii. Steve was also presented with an Adult Literacy Award for initiating an Adult Literacy Programme at Hawaii State Hospital in 1989. Over the last six or so years Steve was dedicating increasing amounts of his professional energy to working with at-risk youths and adolescents ? in counselling, habilitation, advocacy and trying to keep young people out of the justice system. At all times over his esteemed professional career he was committed to one simple goal ? helping other people. We were so fortunate to have Steve?s
support, enthusiasm and professional expertise behind
what Stargate and the AngelCare Trust are trying to
achieve. It breaks our hearts to lose our dear friend
and mentor, but Steve?s philosophy, and his
compassion, will continue to underpin all that we do.
6 February 2006 Stargate International today reaffirmed its total commitment to minimizing all drug related harm. Stargate Founder and Director, Matt Bowden, said he was taking the opportunity to clarify this commitment following public suggestions from a Member of Parliament that his motivation was financial rather than principled. ?Stargate International was established by me as a vehicle to minimize all drug related harm following the drug-related deaths of members of my own family. Mr Bowden said while Stargate had pioneered legal party pills as an alternative to speed and ecstasy, Stargate was currently working on a range of cutting edge technologies to help beat addictions to a range of illegal drugs including heroin, cocaine and alcohol. He said Stargate?s success in working in partnership with Government and the party pill industry in developing the Misuse of Drugs Act Amendment Bill highlighted Stargate?s commitment to public health. ?The regulatory regime around BZP, which was created by Government with the strong support of the industry, has shown that New Zealand can lead the world in developing and introducing common-sense harm minimization solutions. ?This approach is being noted around the world. It will lead to further study of harm minimisation and the development of more solutions which will help save more lives,? he said. ?There is a continuum of drug users out there from dabblers to hedonists to those who?ve had enough and want to get off the boat,? said Mr Bowden. ?Stargate?s vision is the same as it has always been - to discourage dabbling, to develop safer, legal alternatives for those who are not going to stop, and to develop and bring to market rescue and recovery agents to restore the health of those who?ve gone too far.? Stargate?s STOP P product is one such harm reducing solution. STOP P has positive reports from treatment experts who were encouraged with the results it was achieving. ?It was encouraging to see the number of people who found their personality and moods starting to stabilise on STOP P after the horror of methamphetamine use. This treatment product, combined with the thousands of people who quit P when party pills hit the market show the value of new harm minimization technology,? said Mr Bowden. ?STOP P has shown us that the future for Stargate lies in further refining our technology to the point where we can start formal clinical trials. I think New Zealand will be the international leader in some exciting new developments over the coming months and years.? Mr Bowden said he found the suggestion from profile-seeking politicians that he was motivated by profit, to be offensive. ?The Stargate business model is not profit driven, but it is economically sustainable. We take market share away from illegal drugs and invest heavily in research at the cutting edge of natural pharmacology. ?I?m not driven by money, I?m committed to success. For me, success means saving lives,? he said. ?International Experts advised the UN some
time ago that terrorism and organized crime is funded by
prohibition policies which deal with drug issues as
criminal, rather than health issues. Something is wrong
with a country that closes down rehabilitation centres
and builds more prisons. The ?tough on drugs? rhetoric
doesn?t work for your average addict or user but
organized criminals make a killing. Policy makers need
to acknowledge this truth.? ?The current Minister for Drug Policy, Hon Jim Anderton, has committed to basing policy on this independent expert advice. What this means is that policy is based on what will best work, rather than if it is politically saleable. ?This approach is leading the rest of the world in responsible, evidence-based drug policy. This approach will continue to save lives, even if it does not suit all political agendas.?
25 October 2005 Mr Bowden said it was time for an evidence-based approach to work-place drug testing which was based on actual risk, rather than stereotypes. ?Many kiwis like to work hard and party hard. Sometimes we use alcohol, sometimes we use other substances. Practically every society of humans has done this since the beginning of time. ?The issue for employers must be on whether or not the employee is impaired from doing their job while they are on duty. If there is no evidence of impairment then is it really an employer?s business what the employees do in their spare time?? Mr Bowden said with traces of cannabis
existing in the body for up to three months there is
often an enormous gap between the presence of drugs and
evidence of impairment. He said employers need to think
very carefully about where drug testing could take them. Mr Bowden said recreational substance use today was much like homosexuality 20 years ago in terms of stigma. ?When these numbers of people are involved, even if we don?t approve of the morality, we?re compromising basic tenets of equality by discriminating against users of one particular substance over another ? in many cases, for no good reason,? he said. ?Employers should concentrate on testing the ability of an employee to carry out their job safely rather than focusing on the remains of the weekend in their bloodstreams.
5 October 2005 Matt Bowden of Stargate International, an organisation dedicated to helping reduce the harm caused by the use of both legal and illegal drugs, said the goal of any approach to drug issues must be keeping people alive, rather than compliant. ?I support the sentiment in recent comments by the Wellington Coroner, but not the message. Fear-based drug education has been shown to spark curiosity in inquiring minds and has actually been shown to increase demand. ?The facts show that those countries which are ?toughest? on drugs end up doing the most harm to their people,? he said. The principle of harm minimization is that where people will use drugs, every effort should be made either to provide safer alternatives or to ensure that harms associated with drug use are reduced as far as possible. Mr Bowden said harm minimisation is the
international standard promoted by the World Health
Organisation in most effectively approaching and dealing
with drug use. ?I would really like to see drug use
destigmatised and an environment created where we can
openly and honestly discuss drug use, like any other
activity. Recent ?celebrity drug busts? have helped to
show that all sectors of society use drugs, yet nobody
is able to talk about it for fear of arrest. Mr Bowden said since the beginning of human history, people have used recreational substances in a social setting, and probably always would. "It is naïve to think we are going to stop people from using drugs. The United States' 'War on Drugs' is the best possible evidence of this." Mr Bowden said recent moves by the
Government to keep BZP-based party pills on the market,
but place controls around them, was an excellent example
of harm minimization in practice. Mr Bowden said young people in particular were very cynical about being told not to use one substance or another when cigarettes and alcohol - arguably the two most dangerous drugs on the planet - were actively promoted and sold around the clock. He said that for as long as there is a 'war on drugs' mentality, adolescent substance use will remain a primary method of rebellion and that substance use tended to increase in harsher, more punitive environments. "The latest research from Australia, for example, shows that Government is one of the least trusted sources of information about drugs, as a result of decades of fear -based drug education. "Thankfully the New Zealand Government is finally taking an evidence-based approach to this issue and is allowing an expert panel to make decisions on what will actually work."
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Stargate International
Tel NZ 0800 STARGATE ? Int +64(0)21 77 23 23 ? Fax +64(0)9 929 3231
www.neuronutrients.co.nz ? www.thestartrust.org ? www.stargate.org.nz