Source: https://fyi.org.nz/request/8956-impact-of-methamphetamine-on-health-and-well-being
Timestamp: 2019-08-24 04:40:19
Document Index: 350531730

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 2', 'art 2', 'art 3']

Impact of methamphetamine on health and well being - a Official Information Act request to Ministry of Health - FYI
Printed from https://fyi.org.nz/request/8956-impact-of-methamphetamine-on-health-and-well-being on August 24, 2019 16:40
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Impact of methamphetamine on health and well being
Miles Stratford made this Official Information request to Ministry of Health
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From: Miles Stratford
Under the Official Information act, I request details be provided regarding the following requests:
1/ In an email to the undersigned of 10th of September, Stewart Jessamine advised the following in respect of the relative risks presented to by lead paint, mould and dampness when compared to methamphetamine residues in property:
"The Ministry concurs with Sir Peter's assessment that, in terms of risk of harm to health, the presence of lead paint, mould or dampness pose significantly greater threats to health than presence of methamphetamine on surfaces where the premise has not been used as a laboratory to manufacture methamphetamine."
Please provide details of the comparative studies and information that allows the Ministry to reach this conclusion.
2/ Methamphetamine is known to have adverse side effects to he health of users. These effects can include damage to the heart, kidneys, circulatory systems and nervous system.
Please provide details of the research conducted/data collected by the Ministry of Health from those patients presenting with compromised health in respect of their heart, kidneys, circulatory and nervous systems, which shows the impact of current and/or historic use of methamphetamine on the health impacts these patients are presenting with.
Thank you for your email dated 29 October 2018 requesting the following
1/ In an email to the undersigned of 10th of September, Stewart Jessamine
advised the following in respect of the relative risks presented to by
lead paint, mould and dampness when compared to methamphetamine residues
in property:
"The Ministry concurs with Sir Peter's assessment that, in terms of risk
of harm to health, the presence of lead paint, mould or dampness pose
significantly greater threats to health than presence of methamphetamine
on surfaces where the premise has not been used as a laboratory to
manufacture methamphetamine."
Please provide details of the comparative studies and information that
allows the Ministry to reach this conclusion.
2/ Methamphetamine is known to have adverse side effects to he health of
users. These effects can include damage to the heart, kidneys, circulatory
systems and nervous system.
Please provide details of the research conducted/data collected by the
Ministry of Health from those patients presenting with compromised health
in respect of their heart, kidneys, circulatory and nervous systems, which
shows the impact of current and/or historic use of methamphetamine on the
health impacts these patients are presenting with.
The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H201807260.
later than 26 November 2018, being 20 working days after the day your
Ministerial Services (OIA)
[Ministry of Health request email]
Ministerial Services l Government Services l Office of the Director
7260 Stratford.pdf
566K Download View as HTML
Dear Miles Stratford
Please find attached response to your official information request.
Margee Do
Senior Advisor, OIA Services
[1]www.health.govt.nz
<[FOI #8956 email]>
To: OIA/LGOIMA requests at Ministry of Health <[Ministry of Health request email]>,
Date: 29/10/2018 11:02 a.m.
Subject: Official Information request - Impact of methamphetamine
on health and well being
Under the Official Information act, I request details be provided
regarding the following requests:
[FOI #8956 email]
Is [Ministry of Health request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests
to Ministry of Health? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=5305&a...
[3]https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=5305&a...
This e-mail message has been scanned for Viruses and Content and cleared
by the Ministry of Health's Content and Virus Filtering Gateway
1. file:///tmp/www.health.govt.nz
2. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=5305&a...
3. https://scanmail.trustwave.com/?c=5305&a...
Dear Margee
thanks you for providing Dr. Rainger's response.
Given the Ministry is not collecting evidence of the impacts of first hand exposure to meth, it is unsurprising that it should have no records around 3rd hand exposure.
With respect to Stewart Jessamine's advice, if there is no evidence to support the Ministry concurring with the opinions of Professor Gluckman, how is it that the Ministry has formed this view of the relative risks presented by contaminants in the home?
Dear Mr Stratford
I refer you to our response of 21 November 2018, the Ministry does not
have comparative studies on the risks of methamphetamine versus lead or
mould in homes. The paper:
[1]http://www.pmcsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploa...
refers to several studies and researches made about methamphetamine which
you might find useful.
There is information in the Ministry website about:
[2]www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/lead-poisoning
The importance of warm, dry homes:
[3]www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/warmer-drier-homes
[4]http://www.health.govt.nz
<[FYI request #8956 email]>
Date: 22/11/2018 10:55 a.m.
Subject: Re: Response to your official information request -
H201807260
1. http://www.pmcsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploa...
2. file:///tmp/www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/lead-poisoning
3. file:///tmp/www.health.govt.nz/your-health/healthy-living/warmer-drier-homes
4. http://www.health.govt.nz/
many thanks for those links. I am very familiar with the PMCSA Report. Under the Official Information Act, I'd like to receive some additional information rearding the response of the Ministry of Health to the PMCSA Meth Report.
The recommendations contained in the PMCSA report vary dramatically from those which the Ministry of Health promoted on the back of the report supplied to the Ministry by ESR in 2016. Please provide copies of the communications (emails, letters, meeting minutes etc) the Ministry has entered into with ESR and the parties ESR commissioned to produce its report regarding the PMCSA Report, their views as to the efficacy of the advice contained into the PMCSA Report and the implications it has for the advice the Ministry received from ESR.
I have been advised by an internationally recognised toxicologist that the numbers included in the PMCSA Meth Report in respect of acceptable meth residues in property cannot be arrived at using arrived at using standard risk assessment methodologies. Please provide copies of the communications (emails, letters, meeting minutes, reports etc) the Ministry has entered into and/or received since the May 29th release of the PMCSA Meth Report, that give the Ministry confidence regarding the efficacy of the advice the office of the PMCSA has supplied.
The numbers regarding acceptable levels of meth residues in property proposed in the report are supported and promoted by the Minister for Housing and have been acted on and incorporated into policy by the Real Estate Authority, Housing New Zealand, the Tenancy Tribunal and various Councils around the country, Auckland Council being one example. Please provide copies of the communications (emails, letters, meeting minutes etc) the Ministry has entered into with and received from the Minister for Housing, the Real Estate Authority, Housing New Zealand, the Tenancy Tribunal and Auckland Council, prior to and after their decisions to adopt the recommendations of the PMCSA Report into their Policy.
In establishing acceptable levels of meth residues in property, the PMCSA Report relies on the expert opinion of Dr, Nick Kim. Through the Standards Development process, the views of Dr. Nick Kim were shared with the Standards Committee. Dr. Kim was suggesting a limit of 12.5 micrograms per 100cm2 would be sufficiently health protective. Dr. Kim indicated that for the purposes of a standard he anticipated that this level would be reduced to around 3 micrograms per 100cm2. Given the divergence of Dr. Kim's views with that of ESR and others, the opinions of Jeff Fowles, Peter Cressy and Jackie Wright were sought by the Ministry of Health. None of these scientists agreed with Dr. Kim's views regarding acceptable levels of meth residues. These opinions, combined with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health which were based on the ESR Report, were pivotal in the decision of the Standards Committee to recommend the levels now incorporated into NZS8510. Levels which have been overtly criticised in the PMCSA Report and lambasted in subsequent media attention. Please provide copies of the communications (emails, letters, meeting minutes etc) the Ministry has entered into with these scientists seeking clarification of the advice that was provided to the Ministry.
The acceptable levels of meth residues recommended in the PMCSA Report regarding meth residues from use alone are 10 to 30 times greater than other jurisdictions. I understand best practice where a departure of this magnitude from what is generally considered appropriate, is to undertake a study/research, to confirm the assumptions that underpin such a change are correct. Please provide details of the research the Ministry of Health proposes to undertake to confirm that the proposed increase to 15 micrograms per 100cm2 will not result in adverse health outcomes for occupants of properties where meth residues are greater than those levels recommended by the Ministry of Health in its 2016 advice and the levels proposed by the PMCSA Report and acted upon by the Real Estate Authority, Housing New Zealand, the Tenancy Tribunals and various Councils around New Zealand, Auckland Council being one such example..
Thank you for your email dated 23 November 2018 requesting the following
Under the Official Information Act, I'd like to receive some additional
information rearding the response of the Ministry of Health to the PMCSA
Meth Report.
Please provide copies of the communications (emails, letters, meeting
minutes etc) the Ministry has entered into with ESR and the parties ESR
commissioned to produce its report regarding the PMCSA Report, their views
as to the efficacy of the advice contained into the PMCSA Report and the
implications it has for the advice the Ministry received from ESR.
minutes, reports etc) the Ministry has entered into and/or received since
the May 29th release of the PMCSA Meth Report, that give the Ministry
confidence regarding the efficacy of the advice the office of the PMCSA
has supplied.
minutes etc) the Ministry has entered into with and received from the
Minister for Housing, the Real Estate Authority, Housing New Zealand, the
Tenancy Tribunal and Auckland Council, prior to and after their decisions
to adopt the recommendations of the PMCSA Report into their Policy.
minutes etc) the Ministry has entered into with these scientists seeking
clarification of the advice that was provided to the Ministry.
Please provide details of the research the Ministry of Health proposes to
undertake to confirm that the proposed increase to 15 micrograms per
100cm2 will not result in adverse health outcomes for occupants of
properties where meth residues are greater than those levels recommended
by the Ministry of Health in its 2016 advice and the levels proposed by
the PMCSA Report and acted upon by the Real Estate Authority, Housing New
Zealand, the Tenancy Tribunals and various Councils around New Zealand,
Auckland Council being one such example
The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H201807891.
later than 21 December 2018, being 20 working days after the day your
Thank you for your prompt advice.
I look forward to receipt of your further advice in due course
I refer to your email of 23 November 2018 requesting the following
Your request as it currently stands cannot be made available without
substantial collation or research and is likely to be refused pursuant to
section 18(f) of the Act. There are over a hundred email communication
that the team needs to review to collate the information you are
requesting. Unfortunately, the team is thin on the ground at the moment.
At the moment, the team is looking to hire a contractor to collate this
information, but this will take a significant amount of time.
We do, however, have available information that we can possibly provide
you as soon as practicable. These include:
1. All guidance and or correspondence has the Ministry issued in respect
to the PMCSA report on methamphetamine contamination to any and all
business/government agencies/councils.
2. A copy of all Ministry communication regarding Sir Peter Gluckman’s
report regarding meth
3. A copy of all information and communications relating to
methamphetamine (meth) testing, meth policy development and the Gluckman
report including communications with the Chief Science Advisor and
Standards New Zealand.
If you wish to receive this information instead, please let us know on or
before COB 14 December 2018.
Alternatively, please advise if you wish to refine your request and narrow
it down to more specific documents. Please note that there are also some
information about this in the Select Committee papers that the Ministry
submitted, which can be found on [1]www.parliament.govt.nz.
Nâku Noa Nâ
[2]http://www.health.govt.nz
1. file:///tmp/www.parliament.govt.nz
2. http://www.health.govt.nz/
It looks likely that we will need to stage this.
I'd like to refine my request to include the same information but to limit this to the following organisations:
- The Tenancy Tribunal
- Real Estate Authority
Please confirm this refinement can be accommodated within the original time frames
Unfortunately, to isolate this information, we would have to go through
hundreds of communication. I can provide you what I have which is listed
in my previous email. I can confirm that this include some information
from MBIE, LGNZ and DPMC.
Can you confirm that you do not want this and you are just wanting
-Tenancy Tribunal
-REAA
I look forward to your clarification
Date: 13/12/2018 03:20 p.m.
Subject: Re: H201807891- Request to refine your information request
I'd like to refine my request to include the same information but to limit
this to the following organisations:
Please confirm this refinement can be accommodated within the original
I am happy to receive the information you previously offered.
I am specifically interested in the communications for the;
- Tenancy Tribunal
- Real Estate Authority, and
All these organisations have made decisions to adopt the recommendations of the PMCSA Meth Report into Policy. While the Standard is voluntary, it does incorporate recommendations around acceptable levels of meth residues, which are based on Ministry of Health recommendations. These are in turn based on the ESR report and associated recommendations. A report ESR stands by.
The request for these communications is being made in an effort to understand what engagement these organisations have had with the Ministry of Health and vice versa.
7891 Response.pdf
Meth Part 1.pdf
7.1M Download View as HTML
Meth Part 2.pdf
Meth Part 3.pdf
7.9M Download View as HTML
Please find attached response to your information request.
Date: 13/12/2018 05:21 p.m.
All these organisations have made decisions to adopt the recommendations
of the PMCSA Meth Report into Policy. While the Standard is voluntary, it
does incorporate recommendations around acceptable levels of meth
residues, which are based on Ministry of Health recommendations. These are
in turn based on the ESR report and associated recommendations. A report
ESR stands by.
The request for these communications is being made in an effort to
understand what engagement these organisations have had with the Ministry
of Health and vice versa.
Thanks for your advice. With respect to the documents provided, there appears to be a problem with the download capability of the Meth Part 2.PDF. Please check the link and advise.
With respect to the information requested, please note that I am happy for the request for third party correspondence to be refined to the parties mentioned. Please advise why it requires 60 days to respond.
The third part of my request related to the details of research the Ministry of Health is proposing to conduct regarding the impact on health associated with the recommendations of the Gluckman Meth Report. Please provide these details in line with the time line associated with my original request.
I attach herewith Part 2 of the documents we sent you.
We've given ourselves a maximum of 60 to provide the information within
your request. The amount of information is significant and will take some
time to work through to collate and prepare for release. This task needs
to be done in tandem to our 'business as usual' work. I'm sorry there will
be a delay however we will endeavour to provide the information to you as
soon as reasonably practicable.
In respect to Part 3 of your request, this request is declined under 18(e)
of the Act because
the document alleged to contain the information requested does not exist.
Dear Margi
With respect to the document, this still won't download. Please send a copy to [email address] so we can review off line.
Miles Stratford only:
Clarification of details relating to PMCSA Meth Report
To Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor by Miles Stratford July 06, 2018
Compensation paid to HNZ Tenants living in meth affected property where there was no suspicion of meth related behaviour having occurred
To Housing New Zealand Corporation by Miles Stratford September 21, 2018
Communications with overseas jurisdictions relating to meth residues in property
To Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor by Miles Stratford July 16, 2018
Compensation Payments to tenants evicted under the Meth Policy operating under the last National Led Government
To Housing New Zealand Corporation by Miles Stratford December 03, 2018
Does the Office of the PMCSA take precedence over the internationally peer reviewed recommendations of ESR?
To Andrew Little by Simon Fleming October 24, 2018
Communications regarding methamphetamine
To Office of the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor by Miles Stratford July 02, 2018
OIA Request of Standards New Zealand
To Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment by Miles Stratford August 21, 2018
REA work regarding methamphetamine in property
To Real Estate Agents Authority by Miles Stratford September 04, 2018
Breif given to Sir Peter Gluckman - further information required
To Phil Twyford by Jo Kirk August 13, 2018