Ross Bell
Campaigners: Guidelines needed for medicinal cannabis policing
Campaigners say the hit and miss approach to policing the use of medicinal cannabis that puts dying people before the courts but lets other off needs to be replaced with national guidelines, as Teresa… Audio
Using synthetic cannabis is 'playing Russian roulette'
People are better off smoking natural cannabis than playing Russian roulette with synthetics, the director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation says. Audio
Half a kilo of meth enters Ak's wastewater every day
The Drug Foundation isn't overly surprised by new research which has found half a kilogram of methamphetamine is entering Auckland's wastewater system every day. Audio
P most commonly detected drug in Auckland's wastewater
Researchers from Massey University and the University of Queensland have been testing the city's wastewater to find out more about Aucklanders' drug habits. While wastewater analysis this has been… Audio
Medicinal cannabis prescribing set to change
'We need medicinal cannabis to be treated the same as any other prescription medicine' - the Drug Foundation's expecting minor changes to be announced today to the way the drug is prescribed. Audio
From Zero - Partying Hard
Politicians and police agree that drug-checking at music festivals is probably a good idea. So why is it still illegal? Audio
From Zero: How Did We Get Here?
New Zealand's history with illicit drugs is short but lively. Maori were one of the few societies to have no use for intoxicants - so how did we go from zero to having some of the highest rates of… Audio, Gallery
Drug Foundation demands HNS reverse "unfair" evictions
The Drug Foundation is calling on Housing New Zealand to reinstate the tenancies of those it says were "unfairly evicted" for meth contamination. Ross Bell says there needs to be an apology at the… Audio
Housing NZ warned for misusing meth guidelines to evict tenants
Housing New Zealand is being slammed for its "heartless" misuse of meth contamination guidelines to evict and fine tenants. Audio
Drug Foundation praises Govt's move to fund P treatment
Ross Bell from the Drug Foundation says the Government is right to say meth use is falling. But he says a bolder political vision is needed to get on top of the problem of abuse. Audio
Two thirds okay with cannabis being legal or not criminal
A new poll of 1000 people has found two thirds of New Zealanders want cannabis legalised for personal use or at least for criminal penalties to be removed. We talk to the executive director of the… Audio
Meth-contamination hysteria is an "overcooked issue"
The Drug Foundation says hysteria about meth-contaminated houses is punishing vulnerable citizens. We talk to the Drug Foundation's executive director Ross Bell. Audio
Decriminalising Drugs - Ross Bell
The Associate Health Minister Peter Dunne has indicated today that the government might consider taking a more tolerant approach to minor drug offences. Audio
Medicinal cannabis
Helen Kelly, the Council of Trade Unions president, says she will ask the Government to improve access to medicinal cannabis. Audio
Reversing Drug Overdose - Ross Bell
If you're not aware of New Zealand's overdose problem, you're not alone. That's the message from the New Zealand Drug Foundation. Ross Bell is the Executive Director of the foundation, and he says New… Audio
Far fewer NZers using meth as treatment scheme kicks in
It's estimated about 30 thousand New Zealanders used amphetamines in the last year. Audio
Drug Foundation: Meth lab raids not the "knockout blow"
When Auckland police pulled over a Mercedes driven by two teenage boys from Northland last month and found two and a half million dollars worth of methamphetamine, they took it as a sign a big drug… Audio
Best song ever written - Dialling A Prayer
Ross Bell at the New Zealand Drug Foundation has chosen 'Dialling A Prayer' by Straitjacket Fits. Audio
Drug Foundation head calls for debate
Since synthetic highs were taken off the shelves two weeks ago, the debate around what to do with drugs has become more vocal. Audio
Quick withdrawal of legal highs will be tough for users
The Drug Foundation says a ban on legal highs expected to be passed by Parliament today is a backward step driven by election year politics. Audio
