Meth, markets and mistakes
The dark net fallout of NZ's pseudoephedrine ban
In 2011, pseudoephedrine, a once-common ingredient in cold and flu medication, was pulled from New Zealand pharmacy shelves and reclassified as a Class B controlled substance. The reason? It could be used to manufacture methamphetamine, or “P”, the drug blamed for a wave of addiction, crime and community devastation across the country.
The decision was s…