Drug victim’s family back petition
Synthetics bill calls for parliamentary inquiry into scourge
The family of West Auckland synthetic drug victim Calum Jones are among the first seeking a parliamentary inquiry into the deadly substances and the lack of help for addicts and their families.
Jones, a father of one, died at his family home in Henderson on September 1. The 22-year-old had been battling addiction for years.
He had only been home from fulltime rehab for one day when he died.
Since Jones died his parents, Lewis and Lorraine, have been vocal about the need for harsher penalties for people supplying synthetics, and more help for addicts and their families.
They tried everything to help their son, even seeking a court order to get him into detox to save his life.
Last week the Herald revealed that Jones’ family had met Pakuranga MP Simeon Brown, who is behind a private member’s bill proposing to increase the penalties for those who supply illegal psychoactive drugs from two years to eight years.
Brown’s Psychoactive Substances (Increasing Penalty for Supply and Distribution) Amendment Bill was drawn from the ballot this month and is expected to have its first reading in Parliament by mid-March.
Today, with the support of Jones’ family, Brown is launching a petition to support his bill. It also calls on Parliament to launch a wideranging select committee inquiry into synthetics in New Zealand and what help is available — or needed — to help those battling addiction and their families. Brown said, “A select committee inquiry would be a broad mechanism that would allow all of the things that need to be looked at around the people that are suffering and their families and what assistance they are provided.”
Fronted by Jones’ father and sister Heather, 21, the petition will be available for signing across New Zealand.
“It’s not just about locking the people up who are selling this stuff, it’s about helping those who are addicted — we actually need to help those who are suffering,” Brown said.
Jones is one of at least 25 people believed to have died after using synthetics. All the deaths are being investigated for the coroner.
Brown said the petition was more about raising awareness and “starting an important conversation” than getting numbers.
“[I’m hoping this] will create a conversation around this issue and highlight that the penalties are too low, and gather community support for that. People are affected by this in so many ways and want to be heard.
“In my view, the law needs to come down like a ton of bricks on the people supplying synthetics — but on the other hand, there are people who are suffering and we need to help and support them and their families.”
Heather Jones said the petition was “great”.
She knew nothing could ever bring her older brother back, but she did not want his death to be in vain.
“I’m doing this for Calum, I’m just hoping people realise the risk of selling this stuff and hopefully it minimises the selling and synthetics won’t be so easy to access.”
Jones’ mother said watching her son’s addiction was terrifying.
“Synthetics are scary. Very, very scary.”
The man who police believe gave Jones the fatal dose has pleaded guilty to a charge of supplying. Jonathan Gordon, 23, will be sentenced in the Waitakere District Court next month.