Calculations of Social and Community Harm from Drug Seizures

Miles Stratford made this Official Information request to Jenny Salesa

The request was refused by Jenny Salesa.

From: Miles Stratford

Dear Jenny Salesa,

I saw this release recently https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/cust...

It makes multiple statements regarding the social and community harm that is avoided as a result of drug seizures.

Please have the relevant authority provide a copy of the assumptions and methodology used to calculate the harm these drugs cause.

Yours faithfully,

Miles Stratford

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From: Moana Fuli

Dear Miles

Thank you for your email received 12 February 2020 in which you submitted an Official Information Act request to the Hon Jenny Salesa.

You have requested the following:

I saw this release recently https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/cust...

It makes multiple statements regarding the social and community harm that is avoided as a result of drug seizures.

Please have the relevant authority provide a copy of the assumptions and methodology used to calculate the harm these drugs cause.

Pursuant to section 15 (1) of the Act we will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no later than 12 March 2020, being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request within this timeframe, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regards
Moana

Moana Fuli

Private Secretary, Executive Support | Office of Hon Jenny Salesa

DDI: 04 817 8714 | M: 021 909 308
Email: [email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

Authorised by Hon Jenny Salesa, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers' portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you'd like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

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From: Miles Stratford

Dear Moana

I'd be grateful for a progress update on my request, which is now past due.

Yours sincerely,

Miles Stratford

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From: Moana Fuli

Dear Miles

My apologies for the delayed response.

You have requested the following:
I saw this release recently https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/cust...
It makes multiple statements regarding the social and community harm that is avoided as a result of drug seizures.
Please have the relevant authority provide a copy of the assumptions and methodology used to calculate the harm these drugs cause.

Your request has been refused given the information you are requesting is publicly available information. The social and community harm in the Minister's statement were estimated using the methodology provided in the New Zealand Drug Harm Index 2016 (DHI), published by the Ministry of Health (and which is available at this link - https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...)

We recommend that if you have further questions on the DHI, these should be directed to the Ministry of Health.

Kind regards

Moana Fuli

Private Secretary, Executive Support | Office of Hon Jenny Salesa

DDI: 04 817 8714 | M: 021 909 308
Email: [email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

Authorised by Hon Jenny Salesa, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers' portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you'd like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

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From: Miles Stratford

Dear Moana

thanks for your advice.

The link answers the request.

As a supplementary question, which I appreciate sits outside of the OIA framework, but is relevant.

The document makes a range of assumptions related to harm. It notes that in 2016, the community harms from amphetamine type stimulants, which include methamphetamine, was less than $100m.

Given the numbers of prisoners in jail with meth habits, the crimes they are in prison for committing and everything we see in the media about the impact methamphetamine has on our communities, what confidence does the Minister have in the accuracy of this risk assessment framework?

Yours sincerely,

Miles Stratford

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From: Moana Fuli

Dear Miles

On behalf of Hon Jenny Salesa, Associate Minister of Health , thank you for your email of 18 March 2020 regarding, what given the numbers of prisoners in jail with meth habits, the crimes they are in prison for committing and everything we see in the media about the impact methamphetamine has on our communities, what confidence does the Minister have in the accuracy of this risk assessment framework? - In the New Zealand Drug Harm Index 2016 (DHI), published by the Ministry of Health (and which is available at this link - https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/...)

The matter you have raised falls within the portfolio responsibilities of the Minister of Health. I have therefore referred your email to the Office of the Hon Dr David Clark for their consideration and response to you.

Kind regards

Moana Fuli

Private Secretary, Executive Support | Office of Hon Jenny Salesa

DDI: 04 817 8714 | M: 021 909 308
Email: [email address]
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand

Authorised by Hon Jenny Salesa, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers' portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you'd like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...

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From: DCOIA

Kia ora

Thank you for your email received 19 March 2020 in which you submitted an Official Information Act request to the Hon Dr David Clark.

Pursuant to section 15 (1) of the Act we will endeavour to respond to your request as soon as possible, and no later than 20 April 2020 being 20 working days after the day your request was received. If we are unable to respond to your request within this timeframe, we will notify you of an extension of that timeframe.

If you have any queries related to this request, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Ngā mihi
Catherine

Catherine Pearson | Private Secretary, Health
Office of Hon Dr David Clark
Minister of Health | Associate Minister of Finance

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From: Catherine Pearson

Kia ora Mike,

Upon reflection, your query is more appropriately handled outside the OIA framework, as you previously advised; please accept my apologies for any confusion.

The Minister has asked his officials to advise him on this matter and will respond in due course. Due to the amount of correspondence this office receives a personal response may take some weeks.

Ngā mihi
Catherine

Catherine Pearson | Private Secretary, Health
Office of Hon Dr David Clark
Minister of Health |Associate Minister of Finance

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From: Miles Stratford

Dear Catherine,
Thank you and the Minister for the prompt response. Clearly a low level priority right now, which is understood. I'd be grateful for a response in the fullness of time.

Keep up the good work in challenging times.

Yours sincerely,

Miles Stratford

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