Drugs and Booze: The Price is High
New Zealand is the priciest place in the world to buy cocaine and MDMA pills, according to the 2018 Global Drug Survey.
Kiwis also forked out the fourth-highest price for LSD compared with the 20 countries surveyed.
Our small population and the high risks associated with border control have long made party drugs expensive, NZ Drug Foundation director Ross Bell said. “Bargains” were often not the real thing, he warned.
"This is why meth became so big in New Zealand because we couldn't get our hands on MDMA and coke and thought f... it, we will just make our own drug, and make a potent thing out of cold and flu medicine and whatever."
The survey also shone a light on how Kiwis tended to buy and use cannabis. About four percent grew their own, while 45.5 percent got it through friends, 26.5 percent through friends of friends, and one in six through dealers they knew.
Bell said it was a bit of a Kiwi tradition to share, and that extended to trading. "It's always been that kind of Kiwi generosity."
And while alcohol is also a drug, the study showed many New Zealanders remained "delusional" about how bad their drinking was.
The figures showed 62.5 percent of women under 25 did not know drinking less reduced the risk of seven different types of cancer, and almost half were unaware that even people with heavy alcohol use can significantly reduce the risk of harm by having two alcohol-free days per week.
About 40 percent of people were unaware alcohol offered little or no health benefit.
"That's the one New Zealanders want to hold on to, that a little bit of alcohol is good for you, but it's just not true," addiction medicine specialist, professor Adam Winstock said.
What's your favourite tomato recipe?
Kia ora neighbours. We know your tomato plants are still growing, but we're looking ahead to the harvest already! If you've got a family recipe for tomatoes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine to share with our readers. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our February 2025 issue.
Poll: When should the tree go up? 🎄
From what we've heard, some Christmas trees are already being assembled and decorated.
What are your thoughts on the best time to get your Christmas tree up?
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5% Second half of November
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44.6% 1st December
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17.1% A week before Christmas
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32.1% Whenever you wish
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1.2% Other - I'll share below
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