I have no need for the drug 'P'. I realise that it is a major problem, which should be addressed. However, withdrawing, or having pseudoephidrine products such as Codral Cold & Flu only available on prescription is a nonsense. I have been taking medicines utilising ephidrine and in later years, pseudoephidrine daily for over thirty years. If I miss a dose I invariably spiral down into an infected sinus situation, which can only be fixed by antibiotics and large doses of pseudoephidrine. I will be 65 this year and have in recent years developed a marginally raised blood pressure. As a consequence my GO refuses to give me a prescription, claiming she would be struck off I was to die and it was found out that she had prescribed it. I have been to see an ENT specialist who is able to operate to make the sinus drain more easily, however this will not stop my nose from running continuously. There must be other ways to stop the prevalence of 'P' without punishing a whole heap of innocent people. This is a no win situation for me!

The prevalence of meth in New Zealand is a function of our poor drug policy.

The pharmacology of meth is not responsible for the mayhem media is attributing to it (that may be an easy sell, but is simplistic and insulting to the science, a point that seems to escaped Gluckman, Key and others.)

When are media going to ask 'which part of the drug policy is the bit that is working?' - we see the 'multifaceted approach' being touted by politicians and sycophants is an excuse for systemic failure. They can hide behind 'its a complex subject' but can hide from the failure that IS our flawed drug policy.

Compulsory treatment will not work (but for a few rare cases).

We have a responsibility to stop the spin associated with the 'meth' problem as we are repeating the failure of the past - thus endangering innocent folk, incurring social costs that are unbearable, and promulgating the myth that 'if we redouble our efforts' this can be beaten. It cannot. That is self evident.

A rational review of our drug laws are currently before a (stalled but progressing slowly) Law Commission. That is where the FULL STORY of our failed drug policy needs scrupulous and rigorous examination.

In the interim we should beware of Politicians warning of hobgoblins and then touting solutions....

Over the counter pseudoephedrine-based medicines from the chemist aren't the problem ... it gets smuggled or imported in bulk. I think they need to focus on catching the bigger loads at the border and not worry about the odd box people can buy ... I'm sure buying codral by the box at the chemist (i.e. paying retail plus having to give ID) is not something the big-time p-makers can be bothered with ... they'd go with trying to import huge quantities (bought cheap from China) and hope Customs don't have the resources to catch it all.

Why not reclassify the drug as Pharmacist ONLY and so pharmacists can regulate the sale of these medicines of potential abuse? And it can also save the public the cost of seeing a doctor!

My son has been a P addict and cook. When he's not on P he's on H and pot etc. He's a thoroughly nasty person whilst in pursuit of his "happiness". I blame him and our NZ culture,not "accessibility" of PE for that. I really feel that NZ is a breeding ground for these problems and Key's solution will not relieve it - just further assault the rights of law abiding people. Once "it wasn't my fault, I was drunk" was a defence for all sorts of crimes. Get some guts Keys. Address the real problem. Attack the villains. Smash the gangs. Protect the populace.

Just the one point; why should I have to pay extra fees to relieve my chronic sinus issues when I am a law abiding citizen? How is that fair Mr Key?

There are a few things i want to clear up. Pseudoephedrine has always been available on prescription, it is not subsidised however. Phenylephrine is effective, but not at the doses in the over the counter tablets, but taking the required doses can lead to other side-effects, such as raised blood pressure. Also phenylephrine can still be used to make the dreaded "P" but the yields are much lower than that of the conversion from Pseudo, and also there are less steps in the process and less chemicals involved, but where there is a will, there is a way. 90%-95% of "P" is imported, not made in NZ. ID's are currently recorded and this list is given to a database, who collates the data and sends out 'alerts' of suspicious people.

another draconian, moronic law that wil not serioulsy effect the production of P, but will make life more dificuilt and expensive for everyone else.

I'm all for trying to prevent p heads from getting a hit, but people like me with sinus problems need these medicines often to prevent/relieve infection and pain. We will be the ones that suffer. Are the government going to pay for our operations?

I would rather pay to go to the doctor when I was sick than pay for the rest of my life if someone I loved fell into the P trap. We as society pay for it one way or another in the form of violence, crime and the lives of the people we love. No-one is free of of P and if it saves 1 life it is worth it I believe.