5 Sep 2022

Why is Northland's Te Ara Oranga meth programme working?

From Midday Report, 12:41 pm on 5 September 2022

There are calls for a meth programme in te tai tokerau to be rolled out nationwide to help address the growing and urgent problem of meth addiction in Aotearoa.

New research by the Helen Clark Foundation and the Drug Foundation, says a tough on crime approach has failed and there needs to be a health-based approach instead.

The report says Te Ara Oranga, a trial programme for meth addiction run in Northland, should be rolled out nationwide.

Earlier this year it was launched in Murupara.

The general manager of mental health and addiction services at Te Whatu Ora Northland Ian McKenzie told Māni Dunlop now was a good time to expand it to coincide with the national change to health services.