The government is planning to take some Flu medicines off the shelves of chemist shops. Instead, people will have to go to their doctor and get a prescription if they want these medicines.
The reason is that these medicines contain pseudoephedrine which is used to make the drug called P. New Zealand has a big problem with P users. About half of the pseudoephedrine used for making P comes from these medicines but the other half comes from China. Some people smuggle it into New Zealand. Recently two men in Auckland were put in prison for life after they were found guilty of importing and selling P.
The government also plans to increase the number of customs officers to catch people importing drugs. The Ministry of Health will also set up clinics for drug users to help them give up drugs. |