Dear Kyle Sutherland

Thank you for your request for official information, received by the
Ministry of Health on 4 August 2016. The Ministry's reference number for
your request is: H20160 3160

You requested:

In the recently released Drug Harm Index of 2016 I fail to see
consideration of one of the most harmful drugs in New Zealand, alcohol.
[1]http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/d...
My first question is: Does the Ministry of Health consider alcohol to be a
drug? My second question is: If no, under what definition or determination
does alcohol not meet the definition of a drug? My third question: If yes,
why has alcohol not been included alongside all other recreational drugs
in New Zealand? Alcohol total social cost is estimated to be $5.3 billion
a year, far exceeding all other illicit drugs mentioned in the report. A
drug harm index should contain all harmful drugs to society, not just
those which the government deems illicit.
Does the MoH conclude the drug harm index gives a fair representation of
all drug harm in New Zealand if it does not include alcohol and tobacco?

Your request has been received and logged.  You can expect a reply no
later than 1 September 2016 as required under the Official Information Act
1982.

Please note that a working day is defined in the Act as ‘any day of the
week other than a Saturday, Sunday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day,
Labour Day, the Sovereigns birthday, Waitangi Day and a day in the period
commencing 25 December in any year and ending 15 January in the following
year.

If a large amount of information has been requested or if the Ministry
needs to consult in order to make a decision, we may need to extend this
date (this is provided for in section 15A of the Act).  We will advise you
if such an extension is necessary.

The Ministry's reference number for your request is: H20160 3160

Yours sincerely,

Samantha Irons l OIA Co-ordinator
[MOH request email]
Government Relations l Ministerial, Executive and Government Services l
Office of the Director General

[2]http://www.health.govt.nz

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References

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1. http://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/d...
2. http://www.health.govt.nz/

 Dear Kyle Sutherland,

Please find attached the response to your request for information under
the Official Information Act 1982.

Kind regards,

Melissa Buckle l OIA Co-ordinator
[MOH request email]
Government Relations l Ministerial, Executive and Government Services l
Office of the Director General

[1]http://www.health.govt.nz

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References

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1. http://www.health.govt.nz/