Sharp rise reported in use of LSD

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32819, 20 January 1972, Page 12

Sharp rise reported in use of LSD

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 19.

A trend over the last year towards increased use of LSD by Auckland drug users has apparently been accelerated within the last month.

The upsurge, which is confirmed to varying degrees by official sources, is the result of a scarcity of the “softer” drugs such as marijuana and hashish and a plentiful supply of LSD after the arrival of a large smuggled consignment just before Christmas.

The trend to LSD is even causing concern to some drug users who are troubled about the increasing use of the hallucinogen, a much more dangerous narcotic than marijuana or its concentrated derivative, hashish. “A friend and I have noticed that because grass (marijuana) is so hard to get many people are splitting up an LSD tablet several ways in order to trip,” said one young Aucklander who occasionally smokes marijuana, today. „ “We are disturbed by it. The increased availability of LSD is attributed by drug circles to the arrival of an extremely large quantity of LSD from the United States about a month ago. One source, who insists that his information is correct, says that the consignment numbered 200,000 tablets, although the head of the Auckland drug squad, Detective-Sergeant B. J. Stewart, regards this as “nonsense.” The tablets, which are about an eighth of an inch long and of the same width, have been spiced with strychnine and "speed” or amphetamine for added punch.

They are selling for $2 or $3 each if bought in bulk, or $4 or $5 singly. The source who puts the consignment at 200,000 tablets said that 10,000 had been sold and that the main pusher was resigned to selling most of the remainder overseas. The tablets have circulated south of Auckland to at least one popular holiday spot in the Bay of Plenty. COURT CASE Hamilton detectives seized nine at Ngaruawahia on Tuesday. A youth who subsequently appeared in court charged with possessing them was said by the police to have bought 40 from a contact in Auckland. Detective Sergeant Stewart, whose drug squad has seized about 100 of the tablets, discounts the idea that there is an extremely large influx. If someone had managed to bring in a large number “he’d never get rid of them,” he said. Indications early in 1971 were that there was a restricted market for LSD tablets. POLICE, CUSTOMS Some sources say, however, that marijuana was easily obtainable early last year but that the position has changed. This is confirmed by the deputy medical superintendent at Oakley Hospital (Dr C. F. Whitting-

ri “There has been a dearth rI of grass in recent times, i especially late last year,” he si said. “That is the information -I passed on to me.” > The scarcity of marijuana i is thought to be mainly the ■ result of increased vigilance r by the police and the Customs Department. 1 The Collector of Customs ; in Auckland (Mr M. J. O’Con- ' nor) said today that the increased attention given to incoming parcels applied not 1 only to mail from Asia but i from all over the world. PATIENTS STEADY ; In spite of the increased ; availability of LSD there has ' been no noticeable rise in the admission of drug patients to . institutions. Mr B. S. Cox, counsellor ’ for the Auckland alcoholism , and drug addiction centre, , said today it was likely that ' only a small number of i people who experimented . with LSD would require . treatment at an institution. ! He had returned to work [ this week after a holiday and J had already dealt with two young people who had had “bad trips” after trying the tablets. Mr C. C. M. Bannister, ; director of the Auckland t Christian centre in Ponsonby, i which runs a drugs treatment ■ clinic, said: “There must be I a fair bit about judging from ’ the number of • people I saw • roaming around the street on ’highs’ over Christmas.”