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P is NOT Pure
Tuesday, 31 March 2009.
Originally from express article 19 November 2008
By Di from Auckland Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS)
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| Diana Rands from CADS. |
With a name like P or Pure (the common name for Methamphetamine) one can be forgiven for assuming the substance is just the good stuff – pure and pleasurable…. Unfortunately the truth is far from this. It has been made in illegal labs with no limits on quality, zero standards or controls.
The process of creating or 'cooking' methamphetamine uses very toxic materials. According to the NZ police, other substances, apart from the precursor’s pseudo ephedrine and ephedrine - cold tablets, they have found:
- toluene (brake cleaner)
- ether (engine starter)
- sulphuric acid (drain cleaner)
- red phosphorus (matches/road flares)
- salt (table/rock)
- iodine (test dip or flakes/crystal)
- lithium (batteries)
- trichloroethane (gun scrubber)
- MSM (cutting agent)
- sodium metal
- methyl/alcohol (gasoline additive)
- muriatic acid
- anhydrous ammonia (farm fertilizer)
- sodium hydroxide (lye)
- acetone
- kitty litter
Not exactly the kinds of things people would ordinarily ingest – apart from salt. Manufacturing P doesn’t magically turn these substances into some thing our bodies can handle.
Of course, not using P is the safest choice, but if you do use P taking it orally (use an empty pill capsule or wrap it in cigarette papers) is the least damaging, always eat well before use, drink plenty of water and avoid using other drugs (including alcohol). If at all possible, plan for your drug use i.e. how you are going to get home, be with people you trust, plan to sleep or not do much the next day and know your dealer.
The people who are most at risk from the toxins in P are those who inject.
So, it is VERY IMPORTANT that anyone who injects P filters it before injecting!
To minimise potential risks:
- Use a new fit every time – remember needle exchanges give you a new one for every old fit you bring in.
- Always filter before use. A blue wheel filter is ideal, however the good news is that the humble boomerang cigarette filter ($1.20 for 100) makes a decent filter
- Wash hands and use alcohol swabs to wipe them and the site before injecting – yes those bugs really get in!
- Use sterile water.
Anyone who has seen an infected site, or knows about blood poisoning, understands how very important it is to follow these few simple rules.
If you live in Auckland you can go to NZPC on K Rd to swap your old fits for new ones, and you will receive a pack that already has the alcohol swabs and filters. You can also exchange your syringes, receive free alcohol swabs and buy blue wheel filters at ADIO round the corner from NZPC in East St. Other needle exchanges around New Zealand will do the same. Check out www.needle.co.nz for safe injecting information.
Why bother? Because... you are worth it!
If this is something you would like to talk about with a non-judgemental, friendly professional give us a call at CADS on 845 1818 or www.cads.org.nz. If you live outside Auckland contact Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797.
> More items from Di's Drug Column
