Different Matters by Damien Grant Benedict Collins on Different Matters, Meth, and how New Zealand got hooked.
Aug 14, 2025
Benedict Collins, a political journalist at 1News and author of the book 'Mad on Meth,' dives into the complex history of methamphetamine in New Zealand. He explores the drug's origins, its military use, and how societal perceptions shifted during the '90s meth boom. Collins highlights the alarming rise in domestic consumption, the impact of international drug trafficking, and the failures of current enforcement policies. He also discusses harm reduction initiatives like pill testing, revealing the often-overlooked consequences of prohibition.
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From Ephedra To Synthetic Meth
- Methamphetamine was synthesized from ephedra and proved more powerful than earlier amphetamines used in the 1930s.
- Its shift from herbal remedy to mass-produced synthetic drug enabled widespread medical and wartime use.
Troops Fueled For War
- German troops and pilots used amphetamines en masse in WWII to sustain extreme operations and focus.
- A pilot described heightened alertness and sensory distortion while on the drug, illustrating its battlefield impact.
Prescription Roots Of Use
- Amphetamine pills were widely prescribed in mid-20th-century New Zealand for weight loss and other uses.
- That legal availability seeded patterns of use and later criminalisation when addiction problems emerged.
