Issue 03 ✦ High

C ontents

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Editorial

Shweedietopia

Back in 2020, any weed positive young person was excited for the possibility of a legal-high utopia. With the referendum right around the corner, it felt like we were on the precipice of a future where weed would be sold in Cuba Street dispensaries; where medicinal cannabis would be widely available for all who needed it; where growers would get legitimately paid for their skills; where weed could be safely regulated, out of the blackmarket; where people would be educated, without stigma.

But alas, we’re here in 2023, post failed-referendum, and we still seem to be battling with the Boomer generation’s nonsensical moral boundaries. A lot of the older generation are certain that voting ‘no’ was doing the right thing, keeping drugs off the streets and away from their children. Sorry to break it to you Bob and Karen, but your ‘no’ vote means the drugs your precious grand kiddies Katie and Ella took at 121 Festival are a lot less safe. Their friend's boyfriend Jake sussed them dodgy MDMA that turned out to be bath salts. They were spinning slizzard and sippin sizzurp for 30 hours straight. Like it or not, drugs are a core part of the human experience—why not open them up for proper trial?

Meanwhile, Gen Z is out here getting the fuck on with things, and enjoying ourselves while we do it. Drugs are a pivotal point in adolescence. They’re a core part of the university era. A high is the closest thing we have to flying, leaving our brainwaves shaking. It has the ability to turn the Minions movie into a spectacle. But that’s only if we are safe with our substances: taking them around good people, getting our shit tested, and knowing our boundaries and tolerance. This issue prioritises learning how to have a good time with your drug of choice. Salient has your back.

This week, Zeynep tells her tales from the trip, deepdiving into psychedelics with the support of her guide and uncle, Tolga. Phoebe investigates why drug use in the hospo scene is a result of poor management. Lauren explores the growth of sobriety among our generation, and Georgia helps you plan your high ahead of time.

In our news section, Ethan introduces you to Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau, covering her first 5 months on the job. Zoë covers the recent School Strike 4 Climate, and Niamh investigates murmurs of a referendum to lower the voting age.

Lastly, you’ll find a guide on how to find drugs online, the steps for baking edibles, and a playlist to listen to when you’re zoinked.

Stay safe, keep your friends close, and don’t partake without accessing your (mind)set, setting (where you’re at physically), and your circumstances (what’s going on in your life that could be heightened by an illicit substance).

Arohanui, Maia and Fran

Letter to the Editor: Disability, Accessibility, and Institutional Apathy

Words by Henri Ruan

The Law School decided to revoke automatic access to online lecture recordings, and despite complaints about the policy, it has since gone ahead. I can’t speak for the rest of my community, but for at least myself, it’s become increasingly frustrating.

I have ADHD. Time is a foreign language, I fidget, and when the laundry is attracting flies I have to either take medication or wait for my brain to let me do it. It’s not unsurprising that I struggle with sleep, appointments, and showing up to class on time. ADHD is linked to a lower amount of dopamine in the brain, resulting in a lowered ability to regulate attention, emotion, and impulses. It means in layman's terms: I involuntarily speak my mind, my mood swings a lot, and my attention is all or nothing.

At time of writing, the university has yet to give me swipe card access to the lecture theatres and that means, unless someone swipes me in, I can’t actually attend my lectures. If I'm 5 minutes late and everyone is already inside, I’m stuck. The university is failing me and many others. I was told last year I would have automatic eligibility for lecture recordings, which was either a mis-processing on my end or a straight up lie from the Law Faculty, because at time of writing, my application for law recordings is still being processed.

It goes to show how little the university cares about equal access and accessibility for its students. The Law Faculty must do better to keep education accessible. I have no explanations for why my swipe card doesn't work, but at the end of the day, their policy and poor management hurt those most vulnerable.

It's a hard pill to swallow (it’s not ritalin) that the institutions in place are fundamentally ableist. ADHD means that very systems of communication, dialogue, and planning necessary to mitigate its effects are unavailable to me. Whilst medication doesn’t cure the issue, it makes my problems more manageable. Lecture recordings are part of what helps me manage. Maintaining my attention for an hour straight is impossible, but having the lectures online means I have somewhere to correct misunderstandings or straight up fill up chunks of missed and unprocessed words.

I got some bad news today, my medication prescription will take 7 months to renew, and my current prescription will expire by the end of this month. For the next 7 months, it is entirely likely I will have to carefully ration what supplies I have until my prescription is renewed. I am worried because I know for a fact that my capacity to manage day to day will be impaired, let alone my ability to study.

The university fails to be equitable, because it fails to listen or value those most vulnerable. Last year, the Disabled Students’ Association raised accessibility issues with removing recordings, but the Law Faculty continued anyway. At some point, I will have lecture recordings, and at some point I will have access to my medication, but it doesn’t change the struggles I face now.

News the

13th March 2023

Students’ Use of Artificial Intelligence Leaves University in Puzzling Plagiarism Pickle

Words by Ethan Manera (he/him)

With the rise of AI, students are turning to ChatGPT to write assignments, despite Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington’s concerns surrounding academic integrity.

At the start of 2023, VUW moved quickly, releasing a statement warning students that using ChatGPT would “likely” be a violation of the university’s academic integrity policy.

But their ability to detect and regulate the use of AI is unclear.

Jo*, a third-year student, says she’s used ChatGPT to help with essay plans and processing notes for multiple assignments. “I haven't handed in anything that is directly written by the AI, but it certainly generated valuable ideas and points. If you know how to use [it], why shouldn't you?” she said.

Jo* received an A grade for an essay that used AI supported structure and planning.

Dr Simon McCallum, a senior lecturer at VUW with a PhD in AI, has been alerting the university to the possible consequences of students using AI. But he says they need to act fast to ensure VUW has appropriate systems in place to combat ChatGPT.

McCallum says staff need to be clear with students about whether or not they allow the use of tools like ChatGPT. “My main concern is that many lecturers are still in denial about the significance of this.”

Turnitin claims to have developed new AI detection software. However, its effectiveness is unproven, with tests showing that AI-written text can evade detection. GPTZero is another AI writing detection tool which is being used in universities, but McCallum says this is problematic.

“All the detection tools are basically a hunch [...] there's a reasonably high chance that one of these tools will falsely detect human writing as AI,” he said.

McCallum expressed concern that innocent students could face punishment due to false AI detection.

A university spokesperson told Salient that “ChatGPT should only be used if specifically directed by lecturers and referenced in assignments”, and said that VUW“ is not encouraging staff to use technologies like GPTZero to combat the use of AI; detection technology is too unreliable as yet.”

“Instead, we are encouraging staff to begin adapting their assessments to embrace AI technology and enhance the learning experience wherever possible. This means creating assessments that are less vulnerable to simple AI-based circumvention,” they said.

*names have been changed

Government Drags Heels On Voting Age Change

Words

by Niamh Vaughan (she/her)

Youth rights activists are frustrated after senior Labour MP Michael Wood suggested that lowering the voting age could be considered with a referendum. Wood’s comments were met with discontent by Make It 16, campaigners for lowering the voting age. The Supreme Court declared the current voting age inconsistent with the Bill of Rights Act, due to age discrimination, last November.

The referendum idea abandons the government's initial promise of a bill being brought directly before Parliament. According to Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, “Cabinet hasn’t made decisions [...] at this point” on whether a referendum will take place.

Make It 16 campaigners are disappointed by the rumours of a referendum and the time the government is taking to make changes. “Frankly, we don't know why it's taking so long for the government to guarantee fundamental rights to rangatahi,” a spokesperson for Make It 16 told Salient

“We don't know why the government would suggest [a referendum], when they know exactly why the rights of a minority cannot be determined through the voice of a majority. Elected representatives need to have the courage to do what is right and empower young people to have a say,” they said.

“National does not support lowering the voting age,” said Paul Goldsmith, the National Party's Justice spokesperson. “Many other countries have a voting age of 18, and National has seen no compelling case to lower the age”.

Despite this, Make It 16 still stands strong with its demand. “The government should not use a referendum to decide whether a minority should be getting voting rights,” they said.

Do VUW Students Use Unsafe Substances?

Words by Niamh Vaughan (she/her)

O-Week brought more than just Yung Gravy to VUW. VUWSA partnered with the NZ Drug Foundation to bring back on-campus drug testing for the third O-Week in a row.

VUW was the first university in Aotearoa to have drug testing available on-campus back in 2020. “We know that prohibition is a failure when it comes to harm reduction. [...] Evidence shows drug checking, [...] is a far more effective approach,” stated VUWSA Events Organiser Nathaniel Manning.

At O-Week 2022, 15% of tested substances were partially what was expected, and 8% proved to be not what was expected at all. VUWSA is currently unable to provide Salient with this year’s data.

Salient asked Phil Glaser, Harm Reduction Manager at the NZ Drug Foundation, if there were any substances buyers should be careful about. “As always, we’ve [...] been seeing plenty of synthetic cathinones in MDMA. These are stronger and can have more unpleasant and unexpected effects than MDMA.”

More surprising is the rise in cocaine being tested. “We've seen more [cocaine] around recently, and it's being cut with a wider variety of fillers that can be more dangerous,” Glaser said.

“We’ve also seen some cocaine samples that have been cut with less filler, which has meant even people who’ve used cocaine before have been having unpleasant experiences.”

VUWSA is aware that illegal substances are not the only thing students need to be cautious about. “Alcohol is always the single biggest contributor to harm that VUWSA sees in our O-Week safe rooms,” said Manning.

VUWSA hopes to continue offering drug testing at future O-Weeks “as part of our wider efforts regarding student safety. [It] allows users to make informed decision[s] relating to their personal health and safety.”

Climate Strike Promotes Make It 16 and Indigenous Voices

Words by Zoë Mills (they/she)

Hundreds of protesters gathered on Parliament grounds on Friday 3 March to push the government for climate action. This was part of a national strike day across the country, led by School Strike 4 Climate NZ and Fridays For Future.

The group met at Civic Square and marched down Lambton Quay, before settling on Parliament grounds to share speeches and chants.

“I think affirmative action [through] striking is a way to get noticed. I mean, I'm sure there's no one inside Parliament right now who can't hear us”, said thirdtime-striker and VUW student Alice.

School Strike 4 Climate NZ and Fridays For Future presented five demands to Parliament. These included regenerative farming practices, providing e-bike rebates to low-income households, and lowering the voting age to 16.

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau was present, as well as Labour MP Ginny Anderson and Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw. National candidate Emma Chatterton also attended and was heckled as she spoke.

Representatives from the Act Party and Te Pāti Māori were not present.

Organisers Nellie Potter, 17, and Naomi George, 12, say that organising the strike was “really amazing” because they were able to work with some great people. “It involved a lot of late nights and early coffee mornings. But, it's definitely been worth it today,” Potter says. George said that working alongside a multi-generational group of organisers, including SS4C NZ founder Sophie Hanford, “really helped with getting stuff done”.

“Showing the government how hundreds of people turn up will hopefully push them to make those policy changes,” said Potter.

Make It 16 had an undeniable presence at the event.

The day prior to the strike, the group released a statement in opposition to Hon Michael Wood, who hinted at a possible referendum to lower the voting age. The group responded that a referendum on this subject would be unfair on those under the age of 18.

“I think everyone in our group and the majority of our crowd supports making it 16,” organiser Naomi George said.

Friday's protest emphasised the importance of indigenous voices being at the forefront of climate justice. Alice noticed that the strike included “much more leadership” from Māori and Pasifika groups". “They've put a lot more effort into making sure that the whenua owners are recognised and Māori have input [at] the protests,” she said.

Pere and Samah Huriwai-Segar, both 31, say that engaging Māori communities on a larger scale within the climate justice movement is key to building a collective movement. “Movements need to make spaces inclusive. They need to be welcoming in Māori, finding ways to build engagement in a really genuine way,” Pere says.

“Whether it's climate [justice], animal rights, prison abolition [...] we all need to be working with all of our diverse communities.”

However, organisers of rangatahi and youth-led movements are “still learning” and are bound to make mistakes due to lack of experience, Samah mentioned.

“[To] expect them to be super aware of the politics of inclusion, and how to navigate that discourse I don't think that's fair.”

Wellington was one of the 7500 cities who took part in Fridays For Future’s Global Climate Strike, proving, once again, the power of youth activism.

E-bikes, Housing, and Failing Uni: An Exclusive Chat with Pōneke's New Mayor

Words by Ethan Manera (he/him)

After campaigning on climate action, Whanau is focused on building Wellington’s climate resilience. She says improving waste management, transport, and housing density are critical. She says she'll be “very much taking guidance” from her close friend and Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw.

Ayear ago, Tory Whanau was unknown to most Wellingtonians. But after a landslide victory, Pōneke has a new mayor who says she's dedicated to making this city better for students.

Salient went to the mayor’s office to learn more about the wahine leading our city and hold her to account on her promises to Wellington's rangatahi.

As an alum of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington, Whanau started by telling us about her days as a student. A self-described “hardcore” partier, Whanau said she “was hungover a lot of the time”. She worked as an RA in the halls of residence. "We would just go hard, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and the booze was real cheap.”

But the party lifestyle took a toll. Whanau had to pick up two extra jobs to make ends meet, causing her to struggle academically. “I started failing Politics, I didn't have time to study, and I was miserable. Being an RA was actually not a lot of fun at all,” she said.

Whanau said her past struggles as a student help her to relate to students today. “If I can help create better outcomes for our rangatahi [and] the next generation, that's why I'm here.”

When asked about her achievements so far, Whanau admitted that many of the council’s areas of progress are on initiatives founded by the previous council. She referenced projects such as enabling a new community housing provider, Let’s Get Wellington Moving, and revitalising Dixon Street.

Whanau said rolling out more bike lanes to prioritise environmentally-friendly transport has been a controversial issue, but this hasn't stopped her from pushing ahead with the initiative. “We do get quite a bit of backlash from the opponents. But look, I think the election results speak for themselves.” The council has also recently partnered with Flamingo and Beam to implement an electric bike trial around the city.

Whanau made big promises to increase the city's housing affordability. She was also the only mayoral candidate who is a renter. She said that the long term goal is “increasing our [housing] supply” to slow down rent increases.

Under Whanau’s leadership, the council announced a large rates increase of 12.3%, which will see property owners hit with higher costs in 2023. When asked how the council can prevent this increased cost being passed onto renters, Whanau said there isn't a lot the council can do. “I fully sympathise with renters and how they might suffer the impacts of this rates increase.”

The new mayor said she's keen to officially sit down with the new VUW Vice Chancellor to discuss student housing. Whanau recently had an impromptu chat with Nic Smith backstage at an event and was surprised to get along with him, as she expected a VC to be “fucking boring”.“I was shocked [but] he has a great vibe about him,” she said.

It's still early days for Whanau, who acknowledges the big job ahead of her, but wants to stay mayor for at least three terms. “[It’s] a dream job for me, [it’s] the easiest job I've ever had, and it's because I love it so much [that] I get excited about coming to work.”

OPINION: Want More Students On Campus? Rethink Your Approach

Words by Zoë Mills (they/she)

Last week, Salient published a feature interviewing Vice Chancellor Nic Smith. The piece revealed that Smith was keen on “listening” and “understanding” university students and staff. Smith emphasised his focus on building connections and community, highlighting the need to get more students on campus post-Covid-19. It’s clear that Smith is incredibly out of touch with what it’s like to be a student at VUW in 2023.

In the interview, Smith’s focus on bringing students back to campus diverts attention away from the fact that this is not an issue of students being lazy or antisocial—it is an issue of affordability and accessibility. Not attending uni in person is a product of being a student during a cost of living crisis. An example of this is the mandate on lecture recordings. Smith says that bringing students to campus and keeping campus businesses alive go hand and hand. That’s definitely true, but placing pressure on students—who are already struggling to make ends meet—is simply unfair.

Maybe, just maybe, more students would come to campus if they had the option of cheap or subsidised food, free public transport fares, or were not being pushed out of the city due to outrageous rent. More students would attend in-person lectures if they didn't have to work 20+ hours a week to support themselves. More students would be on campus if they weren't immunocompromised and at risk of major illness if they contract Covid-19.

It is vital that Smith focuses on caring for the community that already exists, regardless of whether that community is on campus 100% of the time. He needs to look into how we can build connections post-Covid-19 within the lifestyles of overworked students and underpaid staff. If Smith wants more students on campus in-person, he needs to engage directly with current students to understand the barriers that are preventing them from being on campus in the first place. Reaching out might be a better solution to making Love Island TikToks.

Let’s hope that Smith reaches into that VC pot of gold and rethinks his approach sometime soon.

HOT TAKES

Australia is working towards decriminalising psychedelics, including drugs such as MDMA and psilocybin (magic mushrooms) as case-by-case prescription medicines for mental illness. Do you think Aotearoa should follow suit?

Bentely (he/him)

Psychology and Criminology

Rosa (she/her) Psychology

It would have to be very controlled, because I know that psychedelic drugs do have the potential to cause more problems rather than solve them. I think if we used them in a safe way that's been tested many times, I can see where the benefit would lie.

Laura (she/her) Biotechnology

Riley (he/him) Honours in Psychology I don't know, yeah it’s a good idea. All my friends who have done [psychedelics] say they're better off for doing it. But I can't really speak too much on it because I haven't done it.

I read an article about this guy who was treated with MDMA. He had really bad anxiety issues and it helped him a lot. Obviously this is just one person, but a lot of other people could benefit from that.

MDMA in particular: 100%, we have to. Its use as a therapeutic adjunct to treating chronic, treatmentresistant PTSD— such solid results.

A STAR-STUDDED CENSUS: HARRY STYLES A FAN OF NATIONWIDE DATA COLLECTION

Last Tuesday, pop star and former One Direction heartthrob, Harry Styles, performed at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland. The only Aotearoa show for the sold-out Love on Tour tour, coincidentally landed on census day. Mr Styles completed his civil duty to Aotearoa, as he confirmed to the 47,000-strong crowd, and he reminded everyone else to do their "census thing" too. On the same night, Australian singer songwriter Julia Jacklin performed at the Wellington Opera House as part of her PRE PLEASURE tour. A Salient reporter was there to quote Jacklin on video. “Well, you know where I’ll be after the show. Was gonna have drinks with friends, but I guess I’ll be doing the census. Nah, I was actually quite flattered, there was some article titled 'the Most Star-Studded Census Ever' with a photo of me next to Harry and Jason Momoa. I went, ‘Wow I’m a star, I’ve made it,’” she laughed.

CHURCH GROUP BRIBES POOR STUDENTS WITH SHOES AND SWITCHES

Those attending the VUW Clubs Expo in Week 1 were bombarded by enthusiastic Christians desperately campaigning for church sign-ups. Student Life Church, a group self-described as “passionate about knowing Jesus” and who say that “Jesus Christ will come again to the earth”, were a steadfast feature of the week. This year, in addition to giving away their iconic keep cups in return for completing a survey, the church was advertising a giveaway of Jordans and a Nintendo Switch. Those around the Student Union building reported hearing exclamations from church volunteers as they promoted themselves with faithful jubilation.

FAREWELL TO A TRUE AOTEAROA ICON: GEORGINA BEYER

NEW BACTERIA NAMED AFTER KEANU

REEVES

Scientists at a German research institute have stumbled across a new form of fungal attacking bacteria, a biological breakthrough which has been given an equally incredible name. The bacteria, which destroys fungus that afflicts the human body, has been dubbed 'keanumycins'. The scientists behind the development said they decided to name the bacteria after Reeves because of its John Wick abilities such as “inactivating its enemies”. Reeves responded by saying, “That's pretty cool […] and surreal for me. They should’ve called it John Wick. But thanks, scientist people! Good luck, and thank you for helping us.”

Aotearoa has been mourning the devastating loss of the legendary Georgina Beyer. Passing away at 65, Beyer held an exceptional résumé of political successes. She was the world’s first openly-transgender mayor in 1995, and became an MP in 1999. Beyer played an instrumental role in the legal revitalisation of te reo Māori, fighting to decriminalise prostitution in 2003, and advocating for the legalisation of same-sex civil union in 2004. Despite facing inequity as a transgender wahine Māori, former sex worker, and sexual assault survivor, Georgina’s story is one of triumph made possible by her inexhaustible charisma, courage, and mana. Her efforts will forever live on in their monumental impact on human rights in Aotearoa, and in the gratitude of those whose lives have changed because of it. If you want to learn more about Beyer’s life and activism, the Vic Film Society is holding a free screening of her biographical documentary, Georgie Girl (2001), on campus on 31 March.

Sometimes Our Favourite Shows Leave And We Don’t Know Why: A Review of Maniac

Words by Takuma Ohashi (he/him)

Where to Watch Maniac: Netflix

Recommended viewing method: On a Friday night after a tough week, when you just want to turn off and immerse yourself in emotional turbulence.

In an alternate, modern-day world, a Japanese pharmaceutical conglomerate is running a clinical trial for their three-day, three-pill cure for all mental illnesses. This is where we find the two main characters of Netflix-original limited series Maniac, Annie (Emma Stone) and Owen (Jonah Hill), experiencing hallucinations from the pills.

Annie and Owen’s friendship is the heart of the show. They start without connection, but through shared hallucinogenic experiences, a special bond is created. We watch as they take turns being there for each other when it really matters—when they both lose their way, are precariously close to entering a comatose state, and their consciousnesses are on the line. Goosebumps. We also observe the complex relationships that both Annie and Owen have with their respective families.

Maniac forces us to realise that we are all human and bound to let each other down. The question is how we deal with the fallout. Hopefully, with love and kindness.

Maniac almost feels like a ‘what if’ scenario. What if Japan’s economy had never tanked in 1991? The show features absurd inventions such as a small, chihuahuasized, robot dog-poo cleaner and an emotionally intelligent supercomputer (no tamagotchis unfortunately). Another quirky invention is the concept of an Ad-Buddy, where a customer can earn money by allowing another person to follow them around and read targeted ads at them.

If you like to ponder how different the world might’ve been if one thing happened differently, you will love the subtle world-building details in Maniac

Look out for the penultimate episode “Utangatta” (Episode 9). There is an awesome, single-take sequence of Emma Stone killing bad guys. It is executed so masterfully that you will want to rewatch several times in quick succession. It reminds me of the much-loved, single-take shoot-out scene in Season 4, Episode 4 of Stranger Things Maniac Episode 9 also has multiple tear-jerking moments, so make sure to have your emotional support human, or animal, nearby.

My favourite television shows and movies are ones whose biggest moments occur inside a character’s mind, like Inception or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. They allow the cast and crew to have fun with everything—liberating the restrictions posed by gravity, tweaking a character’s personality, accent, or body language, resurrecting dead characters. In Maniac, Annie and Owen inhabit multiple personas and accents. In the process, they better understand who they really are.

I don’t say this lightly Maniac is a must see. It’s one to binge, ponder, rewatch, and then share your feelings about with your close friends (or your new uni acquaintances, if you’re feeling bold).

MACHO MACHO

Words by Sibel Atalay (she/they)

San Fran knew what they were doing when they said “free gigs on Wednesday”. This week, Eyegum provided. A crowd of university students packed into Wellington’s favourite music venue—what's not to love? Going into this gig, I had zero expectations all I knew was that my friends worshipped these Ned Flanders lookalikes, and I decided to trust them.

Macho Macho: four dudes, one stage. Flashing lights and screeching guitars set the tone for a performance of classically-trained testosterone. I admire a drummer who can drive a song so unsuspectingly—taking over where necessary and pulling back when the time is right. The push and pull in every song left you wanting more.

Although reminiscent of math rock bands like American Football and Surface To Air Missive, Macho Macho’s style and demeanour is unique to the New Zealand music scene.

Their latest release, “Blink”, sums up the sound of Macho Macho. The song is made of prominent sections which puts classic song structure into the grave. However, it always circles back to its important vocals. Imagine three Ned Flanders screaming at you “I wanna wanna dance dance dance like you you you you you you uh oh yeah!” What would you do? Would you run, or would you dance? When that drum break hit, the crowd absolutely lost it.

Their track “What’s the Worst That Could Happen?” features tempo changes combined with sections where the band moves in unison. Witnessing these movements live showed the band's interconnectedness.

You know when each band member is stuck in their own bubble and you wonder why everything feels kind of flat? I can tell you one thing for sure: these Macho men have stage presence in the bag. Each musician has a way of connecting to one another, almost as if they were conversing.

Near the end of their set, I found myself slightly caught off guard. I love when bands take songs and make them their own. When these guys started jamming “Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas, I was intrigued. There was a lot of jumping, and freshers yelling “PUMP IT”. It was glorious.

As per usual, there was an ‘unsuspecting’ encore. Beer was spilled, crouching was forced (thanks Kenny), and the word “man” was said numerous times. Macho Macho outdid themselves. Another successful Eyegum boy band. Surely one day, boys with guitars won’t be the only beings to grace the stage.

Words by The Salient Lizard (nang/nong)

Unless you’re someone's mum who voted ‘no’ on the referendum, you’ll know that no matter how legal they are, drugs are everywhere in this city.

Before uni, I got any substance via the trickle-down drug effect. Until I was 18, I got alcohol this way too. “Oooh what are you drinking? Can I have a sip?” The trickle-down effect is knowing someone who knows someone and you’re sussed. If ykyk. So, what happens if you don’t know someone, or if your chain-link breaks? Well, my friend, you have to go directly to the source: the black market.

I’m not here to convince you to buy drugs. If you’re on the fence, just don’t. But if you’re already on the path, here’s the downlow.

I first uncovered drugs Discord in 2020. It unlocked a whole new world. There were subservers for everything— weed, acid, prescription ritalin and zopiclone under a tab called ‘pharma’. People were even selling sizzurp and crack under the ‘ice’ tab.

By asking around in the Salient office, I have come to the conclusion that there are probably drugs lurking in the back rooms of every social media platform. Two Salient staffers reported being part of weed dealing gcs on Snapchat, of all places.

The Zuck has drugs being distributed on Instagram and Facebook, mostly catering to the chronically ill community. A Salient contributor admitted to scoring edibles off a green fairy using a fake Facebook account. Another Salient staffer got edibles off Instagram users who would speak in code via their stories to alert buyers to fresh stock.

You’re ready to find drugs. Where do you start?

Figure out the substance you’re wanting, and what it’s for. Is it to relax, support chronic pain, or to party?

Find the most drug-experienced person you know, and ask this person to get you added to a group. This might be obvious, but protect your identity—no real names or pictures.

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1 2 4 5 6

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If you can’t find a group and you're looking for weed, do a key word search on Facebook or Instagram. Get ready for expenny prices! If it’s oils, gummies, or lollipops, they’ll probably ship them to you. I’ve had weed products shipped to me many a time. As long as it’s not straight bud, it’ll be fine.

If you get into the Discord, get ready to talk the talk. Get your Discord friend to run you through drug slang. Get ready to call everyone bro.

Got the dealer to agree? Sweet as. Get cash, find a friend to sneakily loiter somewhere and watch the deal happen, and dress masc (hoodies, baggy clothes, no makeup).

Choose an address for the deal zone that’s safe and isn’t your house. An apartment block with a central address is a good option.

Ask for the colour and type of car the dealer has. Tell them the colour of the baggy attire you are wearing. When you spot them, come up to the window of the car. They may let you collect and exchange cash from the front window. But you’ll most likely have to get in the backseat, depending on the foot traffic around the deal zone.

The drug dealers I’ve contacted online have been kind, or at least not talkative. The weirdest experience I’ve had was buying acid for the first time. The guy looked 17, which was concerning. But as a femme person picking up at night, it was a nice surprise that he wasn’t creepy and old.

All of this said, buying off the black market is risky, I won’t lie to you. But most Discord servers have a feedback tab, so if you get ripped off or a dealer makes you uncomfortable, at least you can ruin their reputation afterwards.

Colin Firth, Psychedelics, and My Uncle

The first time I dropped acid, I saw Colin Firth. He was majestically projected on the window of the apartment building across the road from me. I watched in awe as he smoothly transformed into an old woman and dissipated. This first time was with my brother Daniel, who had to sit through my comments on his wiggling teeth and the adorable bees settling on my face. It was an intensely visual experience, and I haven’t had many like it since. It’s wild how vivid things become on psychedelics.

The trip was a smooth learning experience. There is truly no way to fully understand psychedelics until you’ve had your own experience with them. Before I took them myself I could partially visualise what others had experienced but I’ve since learnt that the psychedelic mentality is so specific to each individual.

There is so much for us to learn before, during, and after tripping. And while it tends to be an individual experience, there are things we can learn together.

What the fuck is actually going on up there when we trip? What even are the common psychedelics? How, when, where, and why, should you trip?

My uncle Tolga has been a huge figure in my journey with psychedelics so far. He’s helped me understand how important research is when trying to understand drugs, especially ones that take you to such an intense place like psychedelics do.

I asked Tolga about his first experience with psychedelics, and where he is in his journey now.

“My first experience with psychedelics occurred in the 90s, when I took MDMA with my best friend on Heybeliada [an island off the shores of Istanbul, Turkey] and went on a 5-hour bike ride. I became charged with power and euphoria,” he told me. “The experience was filled with tremendous amounts of love, compassion, and joy, and an invitation to grow in life. I also became aware of how people were living in a dampened energetic state. This gave me a curiosity to explore further, and I started a path of learning with the sacred medicines.”

“Since then, I have worked with many different psychedelics, undergone multiple apprenticeships and trainings with shamans of different cultures, received an academic degree on psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, and am recognised in my communities as a healer.”

MDMA, or methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is a synthetic stimulant. It is not often considered a psychedelic— especially in a country like Aotearoa, where its use is so normalised. Like most psychedelics, MDMA interacts with the serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline neurotransmitters in our bodies. In non-scientific speak, it makes you feel lovey, happy, and energised. All your senses become heightened and you feel euphoric. There are some risks that come with MDMA use, so research about potential dangers, as well as chemical and emotional effects of the drug, is a huge must in your exploration! MDMA is also known to cause pretty intense comedowns, so prepare some self-care and relaxation for the following few days.

Words by Zeynep Todd (she/her) and Tolga Yenilmez (he/him)

What about a substance that exists naturally?

Let’s talk magic mushrooms with Tolga.

“Psilocybin is a natural compound that is found in many hundreds of varieties of mushrooms all over the world. Recent scientific research has shown that it interacts with the 5-HT2A receptors in the brain [serotonin receptors], and that it stimulates neuroplasticity [the ability of the brain to make new connections and prune unused, old connections] and also neurogenesis [the ability to turn stem cells into new nerve cells].” It is important to understand how the substances we use are made up, and the ways in which they interact with us chemically.

Tolga told me that, out of any psychedelics, he respects mushrooms the most of all. “Perhaps [that’s] because I was called directly [in a trip] by the [mushrooms] to hold a mushroom altar, or perhaps because they teach [the user] so strongly, but also gently. I witness tremendous healing of my clients when I work with them."

I’m not a spiritual person, but I do believe it’s necessary to understand that spirituality has always been a huge part of psychedelics. This is especially the case for herbal and sacred medicines, and it should be valued. Naturally occurring substances, such as psilocybin, have been used in spiritual and medical contexts for thousands of years. It’s important for us to appreciate and understand that before we consume them, even if it’s only to a small extent.

The substance LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is a more modern development in psychedelics. Acid, as it’s most commonly known, is a substance that blends nature and synthetic properties. On average, acid trips last 12 hours.

Mine usually reach the 16-hour mark. It can be a long and gruelling experience. When I’m tripping, I always like to keep someone around whose sleep schedule is as wack as mine.

LSD was first made by Swiss scientist Albert Hofmann in 1938, after he attempted to isolate the medically-beneficial properties of the ergot fungus. LSD was legal to produce for 20 years after this, and the huge psychological benefits of the drug began to be uncovered. LSD, alongside magic mushrooms and MDMA, was shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and assist in the rehabilitation of those suffering from substance addiction. Unfortunately, studies never managed to get very far before most of the prominent psychedelics were banned.

When the 60s and the summer of love, sex, and drugs rolled around, the recreational use of psychedelics became more popular. At the time, many researchers began to argue that drug use outside of a medical setting was unsafe. In the USA especially, this was a huge social control issue. POC minority groups, who often had indigenous, spiritual ties to psychedelic substances, were targeted.

Research has only recently restarted. Organisations such as Johns Hopkins Medicine and UC Berkeley are finally furthering research on the mental health benefits of psychedelics. It would be incredible to watch a society where drugs such as caffeine and alcohol are completely normalised delve deeper into the long-term benefits of psychedelic substances.

There is a huge discussion to be had about how beneficial psychedelics can be in connecting to the world around us. We need to talk about how racism and social control has created a block on something with so much potential for betterment.

"Psychedelics could gradually create a culture that values a clean nature and clean relationships between all human races and geographies,"

“Psychedelics could gradually create a culture that values a clean nature and clean relationships between all human races and geographies,” Tolga says.

Even though they’re illegal, drugs are still relatively easy to find. This is another issue all together. But for now, if you’re someone considering a dive, here is some key advice from Tolga:

“1: Purpose. 2: Safety. And 3: Planning!” he said. “The effects [of the drug] on a person's brain is highly affected by the mindset of the user, [as well as] the setting and timing it is used. Know and test your substance. Do your research about the substance, and set your situation up accordingly. Know your dosage. Use the internet, and set aside time to plan. Prepare your mind and your body for the rest that is required after. Your change will continue for a week [with most psychedelics] so don't do this during a demanding time.”

He also explained that knowing what you need, physically and mentally, while you trip will ensure you feel good during the experience. If you have something that grounds you, like a piece of jewellery, wear it while you trip. Trip sitters and friends are key, especially if it’s your first time!

I fucked up badly with this. A couple of years ago, I dropped acid during O-Week in an unfamiliar city and in unfamiliar room. I began to peak very quickly while watching a thriller show (dumb bitch behaviour), and soon, the world was an array of confusing threads tangled into a point of nothingness. It was terrifying and confusing. I was completely alone. But I knew, deep down, that it would be over and I would be okay. With a couple of calls to some good friends and my uncle, who guided me through various grounding techniques, I was okay.

Since then, I’ve learnt to prioritise who I am and what I need when tripping. I am a hugely social person. I need someone I trust with me the whole way through. I also need to create. Paints, pens, and a notebook are a must for me. I also discovered that eating, on many of the various psychedelics, is not fun for most people. I’d recommend eating a large and wholesome meal before tripping. If you get hungry, simple fruits tend to be the most exciting and interesting while high.

Psychedelics are so deeply complex. There’s just so much we are yet to find out about them. Society as a whole deserves to learn all the many ways in which they interact with our brains. There are also so many benefits from understanding yourself and what you need for your trip. So, stay safe, do your research, and most of all, have fun. During trips where I met my needs, I’ve learned so much about myself and had so much fun just talking, creating, and seeing the world.

If psychedelics aren’t your thing, then that’s cool too. If you take them and realise this, what a great lesson in recognising and understanding yourself. They are not for everybody, and you don’t need to try them to have fun.

P i c k Yo u r Po i s o n : How Substances Shape Your Night Out

Words by Georgia Wearing (she/her)

CW: Substance Use and Overdosing

From having a deep chat on the stairwell in the midst of a blunt rotation, to searching side streets for an elusive flat party, no one really plans their nights out to a T. Knowing how that extra couple of drinks or second cone might change your night could help you avoid some hangover anxiety and regret. If you’ve ever wondered how a substance might change your night out, you’re in luck. I’ve rounded up some of your favourite substances and stories of how they changed a fellow student's night out, so you can prep your nights for all they’re worth.

If you’re ever unsure, look up Know Your Stuff NZ. If you head to their Pill Library, you’ll find a list of pills they’ve found in circulation, with images. They clarify which pills contain higher-than-safe doses, or contain substances other than MDMA.

Alcohol

Duration: depends on amount and alcohol percentage

Kick-in time: around 30 minutes

Alcohol is a classic, but tricky choice. With drinking culture, free drinks, and party games, it’s easy to forget your tolerance and drink more than you intend to. You might end up with blurred vision, drowsiness, loose lips, and decreased decisionmaking capabilities. Alcohol creates a cocktail of stories, good and bad.

Robin’s* night out started as many peoples’ do: planning on not drinking too much. But the offer of free drinks from friends and strangers resulted in her refusing to get an Uber since she couldn’t see it. “My vision was so blurred [that I thought I saw it costing] $300 for an Uber home and I didn’t question it. Not long after I started walking, I pissed my pants. The alcohol just went straight through me. I ruined my new jeans and had to continue the 35minute walk home. I told my friends, and now they ask me how I’m feeling and when I plan to leave, before offering me a drink.”

It’s always a good idea to track how much you’re drinking and plan your way home in advance. Mix a couple 0%ers in your box so you have more to drink without increasing the amount of alcohol. Ask that stranger buying you a drink to indulge you in a bar snack or two instead.

MDMA

Duration: 3-6 hours, not including re-dosing

Kick-in time: 20-30 minutes, an hour if swallowed whole

Methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) is gaining popularity. Like alcohol, MDMA increases your brain’s production of dopamine. You’ll also feel an increased heart rate, raised blood pressure, and a massive increase in serotonin. This can result in feelings of emotional closeness, elevated mood, and empathy, which makes MDMA a popular social drug.

It’s important to know ahead of taking MDMA how strong it is—taking a high dose can result in paranoia, irrational behaviour, anxiety, and pain. Make sure you factor in your size, weight, and usual dosage amount before taking more. MDMA isn’t usually distributed evenly throughout a baggie, so crush it up beforehand to make it consistent.

Your MDMA could be mixed with other substances, often called ‘bath salts’. At festival testing centres in 2021, 69% of MDMA brought in to be tested wasn’t what the party-goer thought they had. Sometimes it was MDMA with an additional psychoactive, or a different substance entirely.

A couple of weeks after a night out, Nathan* had to go to the dentist for intense tooth pain. He realised it was connected to grinding his teeth after taking MDMA. “I was so stressed after seeing someone at the party fall down the stairs that I ground my teeth together. The dentist pointed out where there was obvious wear after a couple of nights of grinding. I now don’t take it unless someone has gum—a new rule I have.”

Weed / Cannabis

Duration: up to 10 hours

Kick-in time: 1-2 minutes after smoking, 30 minutes to 2 hours after ingesting (peak 4 hours in)

For Alanah*, edibles help to enhance nights in with her friends. But once, she ordered some that were way stronger than her normal dosage. “After I’d taken it, I started to feel foggy, like I was falling through the floor. I tried to stand up and eat some food, but I started to cry for what felt like hours. My friends had to stop what they were doing to make sure I was okay and monitor me. Now when I do them, I only take a lower dose and try to time it when I’m in a good state of mind.”

When it comes to weed and other drugs, it can be hard to tell whether something’s been tampered with until you use it. Most government-funded drug sites no longer publish ways to identify tampered drugs, since, in most cases, they’re virtually indistinguishable. Get your stuff checked! Save it for a later date and get it tested in the meantime. Know Your Stuff NZ takes samples and can help you make an informed decision as to whether you still want to take your drugs.

I don’t even know what it is

Duration: N/A

Kick-in time: guess we’ll find out

Sometimes, you find yourself in a random flat party being presented with a white line. What is it? No one’s answering your questions, and you decide to go for it. Matt* went for it at one of his friend's pres. He ended up falling over and sliding down a gravel driveway. “I had to go to work the next morning still tipsy [and] with a bandaged-up chin. No one takes anything with the intention of busting up their face. I’d rather know what I’m getting into and plan ahead now.”

The best time to be spontaneous is when you plan your spontaneity. You don’t need to have a bad trip to know how to avoid one. So, before your night out, set a little time aside to prepare. Ask: who's bringing what? How much? Make a plan, whether you do or don’t take whatever substance you have. Let's be safe and have good trips.

*names have been changed.

The Sober Curious Students Rethinking Alcohol

Words by Lauren Pemberton (she/her)

When it comes to alcohol, New Zealand has developed a massive and kind of concerning drinking culture, especially amongst students. It seems that liquor is at the very top of the fresher food pyramid, and we’ve all forgotten about those Covid-19 restrictions when heading to a flat party equipped with Scrumpy Hands and Goon Bags (apologies for any past trauma this has brought back).

If you assume that basically every Kiwi student drinks, you’re wrong. Many students actively refrain from drinking, and sobriety has become a global trend. Celebrities have launched alcohol-free beverages. Bars designed for the ‘Sober Curious’ have begun to take off in America and started creeping over to New Zealand. Just when older generations didn’t think we could get more sensitive, we have become woke about liquor

The origins of the Sober Curious movement can be traced back to a single book called Sober Curious, written by New York-based author Ruby Warrington. Warrington’s anecdotal comments about her journey to an alcohol-free lifestyle sparked a conversation about societal drinking norms, and probed people to question their reliance on liquor. Because of bestie Ruby and her banger of a book, a movement was created! It's resulted in greater awareness about drinking habits and the emergence of many snazzy new ‘sober bars’.

Sober bars actually originated in eighteenth century London, known then as ‘temperance bars’. But they weren’t targeted towards those with a trendy, low-alcohol lifestyle, they were

for recovering alcoholics. Now, the Sober Curious movement has led to the revival of these unique bars, and the creation of many new ones across Britain and the United States. They’re considered inclusive spaces for people to mix, mingle, and have a tasty beverage. After all, pretty drinks in pretty glasses don’t need to contain alcohol!

Fancy new companies have been established to accommodate alcohol wokeness, and celebrities have hopped on the bandwagon. Katy Perry has created the brand De Soi, which sells alcohol free apéritifs (fancy people drinks). If you follow supermodel Bella Hadid, you’ll know about a beverage brand she created called Kin Euphorics. They make a healthy, non-alcoholic alternative to spritzers and RTDs, using adaptogens and nootropics to mimic the relaxant effect of alcohol.

Like most trends, the Sober Curious movement has travelled from Uncle Sam and his minions all the way to New Zealand. This is why you might’ve seen cutesy brands like Curious AF and Almighty lurking around the billboards of Wellington and the liquor section at New World. These brands have released heaps of products that have the fun, trendy, and tasty appeal of alcoholic drinks, with advertisements that are similarly colourful and alluring.

Even established liquor companies have begun to offer zero-alcohol alternatives. Just look at Pals, Asahi, Garage Project, and Heineken. And while most

bars offer alcohol-free drinks, some are beginning to opt for the fully-fledged sober option. A pop up sober bar in Greytown, Unleaded, opened in 2022, and soon became a hit among locals. It remains the country’s only dry bar. Right here in Wellington, BATS Theatre is launching ‘Sober Sessions’, in collaboration with their new corporate partner, AF Drinks. These events allow attendees to buy alcohol-free drinks and enjoy performances from local talent. Their aim is to promote a healthier relationship with alcohol in the theatre industry.

Whether sobriety is the latest health trend or not, some students simply choose not to drink. They may be a rare species, but they certainly exist. When I was yarning with one of these sober students, they described New Zealand’s drinking culture as “a bit overwhelming” and “really bad”. But it seemed that peoples’ reaction to their liver-saving choice had been generally supportive. They said that “some people are a bit surprised, or initially wonder why. But almost everyone I know has been really indifferent towards it.” To them, the sober lifestyle “definitely felt more like an active decision once I got to uni, since a lot of people around me were drinking. [But] no one ever pressured me to drink or even asked why I wasn’t.”

They also noted that living a sober life became easier as university progressed, with the fresher phase a thing

of the past. According to my alcohol-free comrade, it seems that the biggest hurdle is first-year, as it “places a big emphasis on drinking that seems to fade as you get older” and “O-Week itself was the hardest part.”

My sober buddy said the most noticeable benefit is saving money (broke students y’all better still be reading).

“It’s pretty good when you go out and the only money you’ve spent is three dollars on a coke. Often the alcohol-free tickets are cheaper too, which is a bonus.” As for tips to fit in at parties or events when others are drinking, their advice, quite simply, is “just don’t make a big deal of it! Everyone’s entitled to choose what they want to drink, alcoholic or not. If people don’t accept your decision, then maybe they’re not the best people to be around.” Another great tip is “matching other people's energy is really important, even if they’re drunk and you’re not.”

Us students who drink probably aren’t planning on giving up our beloved Cruisers or tequila bottles any time soon (because let’s face it, good therapy is WAY more expensive). But being mindful of our drinking habits is still important. When I entered the university world, drinking was the latest crowd fad. I find it hilarious that, at the moment, sobriety is a trend. The Sober Curious movement doesn’t seem to be slowing down, with endless brands and new sober bars appearing on the scene. At the end of the day, trend or not, fresher or not, your drink is solely your choice.

"Just when older generations didn’t think we could get more sensitive, we have become woke about liquor."

All Fun and Ketamine : A Hospitality Worker’s Experience of Drug Use

CW: Substance Abuse

It’s New Year’s Eve, and you were supposed to have the night off—a rare hospitality miracle. But alas, two days before the iconic countdown you get the dreaded text. “I have covid, can you cover my New Year’s close?” So, instead of a New Year’s kiss with an imagined hottie (that, to be honest, you definitely couldn’t pull anyway), you’re stuck inside a dreaded kitchen. Not only that, but it’s 9 p.m., no dockets are coming through, and work is staying open past midnight.

What’s keeping you from dunking your head in the deep fryer? The entertainment from one of your coworkers who thought they were doing a line of MDMA. Turns out, it’s ketamine. You watch them as the drugs kick in, and laugh at the fact that they’re also working close. Only now, they’re going to have to work a close on ket, a much less upbeat high than it would have been if it was actually MD.

I don’t think it’ll be a surprise to anyone reading this that hospitality is a hot spot for illicit drugs. Back in my nightclub days, we used to steal unattended cigarette packs and smoke them during staffies. I’d even have customers offer me lines, and have tried many-a-drug for the first time at lock-ins.

But why? When I interviewed other workers, the general consensus was that “it’s fun” and they “could get away with it” at a hospitality job, unlike other workplaces. The customers are already intoxicated, so you’re going to get along a lot better with them slightly drunk.

As explained by someone I interviewed, “because you’re already [at a bar], you’re surrounded by alcohol anyway. It’s easy to put a beer or two on your tab during shifts, and it often puts me in a better mood to deal with customers,

which makes me just want to keep drinking. One time, when I was drunk, I chatted so much with a table they gave me a $20 tip afterwards. [It] doesn't seem like much, but that’s probably the entirety of a year’s worth of tips I’d gotten before that point. So, yeah, I had a shot to celebrate that too.”

Regardless, hospitality workers are often underpaid and overworked by management that don’t particularly care about their welfare. It’s no surprise they turn to substances to make their workplace a little more manageable.

But is

it all fun and ketamine?

A 2009 study published in The American Journal Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse showed that 80% of male and 64% of female hospitality workers engaged in risky and potentially harmful drinking habits. In an article in Salient’s “Party” issue last year, author Zeynep Todd described hospitality workers as being “the life of the party…consuming alcohol like nothing else matters.”

Florida House Experience (FHE Health), an American rehab centre, claims that hospitality workers are more likely to develop mental illnesses due to their work environment. God forbid they get medicated though. I don’t know about you, but when I started antidepressants at my bar job, it was a pretty horrific few weeks of zero spatial awareness, extra-bright lights, and about a million cuts from all the broken glasses.

It’s all well and good to point out these issues, but what can realistically be done about it? If you’re one of those people waving a stick in the air and saying “Just Stop Doing Drugs!”, I would simply recommend that you go outside and touch some grass.

Words by Phoebe Robertson (she/her)

When I contacted Know Your Stuff NZ, the general advice they gave to reduce harm included hydrating, resting, and eating before popping or snorting, getting your drugs tested, and knowing what to expect from substances. As with everything, avoid mixing substances (including alcohol), measure your doses with accuracy, and start on a low dose— you can always take more, but you can’t go back in time and take less. And always stick with your friends—keep an eye out for each other! If your hospo venue is anything like mine, you’ll be close with your coworkers. Do everyone a favour and watch over them at staff drinks.

Mary Allan, a counsellor at Mauri Ora—Student Health and Counselling, echoed that the best advice to keep safe was to “be around safe people and have a plan to get home safely.” She further acknowledged that alcohol was the drug that she personally saw causing the most harm to students.

I’d love to see more responsibility and accountability from hospitality businesses. After all, they’re the ones that create work conditions that cause (often young) workers to turn to substances. Simple things like better pay and flexibility with giving time off are all preventative measures—while they don’t directly target substance abuse, they do create a healthier work environment.

Know Your Stuff NZ recommended workplaces be prepared for employees using drugs, and encouraged employers to offer proactive support to staff that may develop alcohol/drug abuse issues. Notably, Know Your Stuff NZ defines workplace “impairment” as not just drug use, but also “lack of sleep, stress, relationship breakdowns, external stress or pressures and prescription medication”. They recommended the same support be given to those impacted by drug or non-drug related impairments.

So, next time you’re out for drinks, you can help your local hospo worker by being a bit kinder and understanding the pressure they’re under. Like you, they are also a human being—not just someone who took your order too late.

I expect there is absolutely no universe out there where every hospitality worker wakes up and decides to stop taking drugs. But I think there is a universe out there where we are all a lot kinder to them, and that’s a universe I would quite like to live in.

"I expect there is absolutely no universe out there where every hospitality worker wakes up and decides to stop taking drugs."

PODCASTS

Get Stoned and Listen to These Podcasts

Words by Alex Marinkovich-Josey (he/him)

One of the special things about podcasting is the ability to create a space for discussion about taboo topics. As discourse about drugs increasingly enters the mainstream media and pop culture zeitgeist, the podcasting world is booming with drug-related content. Salient Podcasts are no stranger to altered states of consciousness. We’ve got episodes that dive into the world of intoxication—from clinical and safety perspectives, to just having a good ol’ time gettin’ buzzed.

Smooth Brain Society “Drugs 101: Psychedelics”

Host Sahir is joined by now Salient Co-Editor Fran to chat with Professor Bart Ellenbroek, head of VUW’s Behavioural Neurogenetics lab, about researching the use of psychedelic drugs as mental health treatment. They discuss the barriers to researching the positive effects of drugs like LSD and magic mushrooms, the history of psychedelics, and the direction the field is headed in.

“The studies, so far, have been very positive. Especially with psilocybin: the active ingredient in magic mushrooms. In patients with depression, [specifically] treatment resistant depression, [just one or two] doses a week [...] significantly reduces depressive symptomatology up to six months.”

- Professor Bart Ellenbroek

Above Standard—“Know Your Stuff ft. Wendy Allison"

Ella and Alice talk to the former Managing Director of Know Your Stuff NZ. They chat about safe drug use, and the aims of detecting and eradicating dangerous drugs that circulate around the student community. They also discuss the legality of providing a drug testing service that explicitly handles illegal substances.

“What we did was we read the law [on drugs], we discovered what it meant. One issue is possession of substances, because the minute we touch them we can be considered in possession. So we just never touch them. We had the client handle all the substances, and we just read the results.” - Wendy

Allison

20Somethings—“Chasing the Buzz”

Jolénna, Tahlia, and Nosiphi talk about their own experiences chasing that high. Whether it's from substances like drugs and alcohol, or from just a banging night out in town.

“I smoked weed in high school—my friend was a drug dealer. I had weed available to me consistently. It's funny to me because parents who try to be really, really strict miss out on the comfortable stage. The weird thing was that my parents were really open. I just think my rebellious phase of smoking was because I was such a goodie-two-shoes.” - guest host, renamed Mary Jane

The Unedited Sessions— “03 - HIGH”

Don’t forget to check out this week’s Unedited Session, where Co-Editors Fran and Maia chat with Green Party MP Chlöe Swarbrick about drug and alcohol reform.

“By the age of 21, 80% of New Zealanders would have touched cannabis, and that's under an illegal model. And under the illegal model, we have a status quo and a situation where you have unknown people in unknown places consuming unknown substances to unknown effect, and no opportunity to intervene.” - Chlöe Swarbrick

SALIENT DREAM BLUNT ROTATION

Rolling Stoned

King Gizzard & The Lizard

Wizard, Mild High Club

12.38

Childish Gambino, 21 Savage, Ink & Kadhja Bonet

Forced Jon Bap

Nangs

Tame Impala

Dragonball Durag

Thundercat

Souvenir

Milo, Kenny Segal, Hemlock Ernst

Cosmic Girl

Jamiroquai Everlong

Foo Fighters

Low Rider

War Tamalla

Vieux Farka Touré, Khruangbin

Electric Relaxation

A Tribe Called Quest

Willow Tree

Sticky Fingers

Nude

Radiohead

This Head I Hold

Electric Guest

Collie Herb Man

Katchafire New Gold

Gorillaz, Tame Impala, Bootie Brown

Dear Aunty Vic

Welcome to the confusion and chaos of your first month in halls. Friendships, identity, expression, hobbies, sex, food, partying—and you're supposed to study? On top of it all, you’re navigating not only your own sexuality, but other people’s. What a cluster-fuck. You can’t help but have crushes and be all-consumed by it. Will they be in the next elevator, in front of me in the dinner line, or see my latest Instagram post?

My preliminary advice in this situation is to develop a friendship first. Regardless of one’s sexuality, friendship is the foundation of any healthy relationship. Whether you’re looking for a long-term partner, or someone to come home to after a night on Courtenay Place, friendship is crucial. Don’t roll your eyes at me, little fresher, you know I’m right. I order you to assess your friendship compatibility. Meaning: for the love of God, please go talk to them. There are two possible outcomes. You will either become friends, or you will not become friends. If a friendship is established, congratulations!

Now for the tricky part: navigating someone else’s sexuality. This situation is delicate, and if you haven't heard or noticed any signs that your crush is attracted to guys, they're likely straight or in the closet. If you find out he's heterosexual, no sweat, you still have a friendship.

.AIf you find out he’s closeted, that’s another kettle of fish. From the sounds of it, you are comfortable with your own sexuality. But that doesn’t mean your crush is. If he is still navigating his sexuality behind closed doors, my best advice is to just be his friend. Although you live in Wellington—capital of the gays—coming out is still scary. In halls, rumours spread like wildfire. They’re often fuelled by breathers with internalised homophobia and thotties who crave a token gay. The best person you can be is a good friend and an empathetic, brave role-model that proves being gay is fucking slay.

I highly doubt that a person who is not comfortable with expressing their sexual preferences will be comfortable being in a publicly queer relationship. Nor will they be able to be an adequate partner to you. There's a high chance you'll remain a secret. You never deserve to be someone’s secret. That is not what a relationship is. Don’t fucking do it, or your most relatable Taylor Swift lyric will become “You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath”.

In conclusion, friendship first. If there is no friendship, cut your losses and move on. If they’re closeted? Be a friend. A strong friendship is never a waste of time. Nevertheless, remember life is simply too short to waste energy on anything that isn’t bringing you joy. This process could be prolonged and stressful. You've got plenty to focus on right now. Your year in halls is an opportunity to develop some of the strongest friendships of your life. Don’t waste it on someone who isn’t sure of what they want.

Q.

I like a guy in my hall, but I don't know if he's into guys or not. What should I do?

Popstar

Words by Zia Ravenscroft (they/he)

DISCLAIMER: like any recrational drug, poppers can have adverse side effects and must be taken with caution. Under no circumstances should the contents of a poppers bottle be drunk, it is for inhalant purposes only.

Poppers, or various concentrations of amyl nitrate, isopropyl, and alkyl nitrate, were first used in the 19th century to help with ‘chest pain’.

Sure, famously repressed yet secretly kinky Victorians—I’ll believe that. Poppers are famous amongst the gays for making dancing a bit more fun and anal sex a bit smoother, gaining popularity in queer nightlife scenes in the 1970s. In the past, poppers have been sold in New Zealand sex shops as leather cleaner or nail polish remover. They are now able to be prescribed and imported, and are semilegal virtually everywhere.

Here at this week's 'Fruit Salad' we’re giving you a popper rundown. I’ll be showcasing the best poppers out there—courtesy of my adventures inhaling my way through Wellington Grindr last year.

Poppers are all essentially the same product with extremely minor variations, so this ranking is based on my personal taste in branding and scent.

Jungle Juice Black Label: The classic. It’s like if blue jeans were a muscle relaxant used for the purposes of homosexual intercourse. Unfortunately, it smells like dirty socks, which I don’t particularly find arousing. 3/5

Iron Fist: First made in Berlin, Iron Fist are industrial-grade and German engineered! Delivers like, well, an iron fist through glass. 4/5

Amyl Titanium: Points off for a boring name. If your sole purpose in life is to be a minor drug used by gay people, you can surely be a bit more creative. Points back on for smelling vaguely floral. 2/5

Holy Water: Perfect for those with a sexy amount of religious trauma, almost definitely used by Jesus himself, and my favourite bottle design on the entire list. 5/5

Locker Room: Blatantly trying to appeal to a hypermasculinity that, as a crossdressing trans man, I can’t relate to. I took one look at the packaging and chose something else in alignment with my twinkish aesthetics. 1/5

Double Scorpio: Double Scorpio is the hipster craft beer of poppers, with scents like frankincense, honey, and eucalyptus. I’ve had the best experiences and least side effects on Double Scorpio. Once you scorpion, you can’t scorpi-out. 69/5

High; School

Words by Kamira Leach (they/them; Ngāti Kōnohi)

Being a Māori kid and growing up in the hood, drug culture wasn't an unusual thing to encounter. In fact, it was quite normal.

At the time, I didn't understand why people would indulge in drugs considering the possible outcomes of using. But as I got older, I definitely started to understand.

In high school, drugs were extremely accessible, and vapes were rising in popularity. With their cheap prices, fun names, and bright colours, it's understandable they would appeal to younger kids. This leaves kids in a vulnerable position with ‘dealers’ who are looking to make money off them. Party culture in high school also creates opportunities for other drugs to be introduced to our rangatahi.

This is especially concerning for kids growing up in low socioeconomic areas like I did. There is a higher chance that kids will enter drug culture when they're in an environment where drugs are frequently used. Some people sell to provide for their family; some people use drugs to take the edge off; for some it's just about trend-chasing. Others have no other form of support to ease their strife.

Having a productive conversation about how to support people taking drugs is usually uncomfortable. These conversations can hold a lot of abrasive stigmas, especially when they involve Māori. When it comes to drug culture, there is a lot of judgement, and even more assumptions are made about brown people.

It's no news that non-Māori are much more likely to get away with drug-related crimes compared to Māori. Māori are imprisoned significantly more than non-Māori.

In 2021, the NZ Drug Foundation reported the drug conviction rate for Māori was 48%, despite Māori only making up 17% of the population. 61.9% of those people were imprisoned. Only 4% of Pākehā received drug charges. This is proof that white privilege is real!

Decriminalising cannabis would target safety issues within drug culture, rather than issues of racism. The justice system does not cater towards the needs of Māori, and instead reinforces the systemic racism that is so ingrained within our society. The NZ Drug Foundation also reported that Māori are twice as likely to seek help concerning drug use, but are less likely to be given any support or treatment.

This is the reason why Kaupapa Māori services are so crucial in Aotearoa. Funding Māori services should be of high concern for the government in addressing the country’s drug-culture. It’s clear that, currently, there is discrimination within the legal system and Māori needs are not being met or respected.

In the long-term journey of decolonising Aotearoa, it is pertinent for Māori and non-Māori to work together to break down the institutional racism that is alive and well in our legal systems.

“Kākahungia te tangata ki te aroha, kaua ki te whakawhiu.”

CW: Substance Abuse, Racism

Spicy Baking

Words by The Salient Blizzard (bling/blong)

You either love edibles, or you hate them. They take around 20 minutes to an hour (maybe even two) to hit, and the baking stage takes even longer. So, is it worth it? Your lungs will thank you, that's for sure. Just for this issue, we tested out one recipe and confirmed it works. Here it is in two forms: budget and fancy (AKA your paycheck just came in).

Both of these recipes keep the weed in—you don’t have to wait for the weed butter to sit overnight and then strain it!

Brownies

Premade brownie mix (this will probably tell you to get eggs or an egg replacement too)

Decent amount of butter or substitute (1/8 of a tub or so)

Decent amount of peanut or some other sort of nut butter (half a jar)

Tinfoil

Shweed (I recommend at least a hundy bag or 7 grams)

A grinder or scissors (if you must)

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 120-130 degrees celsius.

2. Grind up your bud.

3. Roll out a sheet of tinfoil and place your ground weed inside. Wrap it up real good in a little parcel. Make sure there are no holes, otherwise you will have burnt, unusable weed.

4. Decarbing time! Put your weed in the oven for 25-30 minutes max. Stay close to the oven to catch any burnt odours. Ideally, your kitchen smells like 70's disco. If you hate the smell of weed, sorry.

5. Leave your weed to cool down for 15 minutes.

6. Melt your butter and add it to your peanut butter. Add your weed and stir real good!!! Add this to the rest of your brownie mix.

7. Pop the mix in a baking dish and cover it with tinfoil. Bake for 30 minutes.

8. Let them cool down first and then chop them up into pieces. Enjoy!

Firecrackers

1 Tablespoon of butter or a substitute

Peanut or some sort of other nut butter

Crackers or wine biscuits

Tinfoil

Shweed (Depends on how many you’re making and how strong you want them. You probably want around two cones worth per firecracker)

A grinder or scissors (if you must)

Method:

1. Preheat your oven to 120-130 degrees celsius.

2. Grind up your bud.

3. Roll out a sheet of tinfoil and place your ground weed inside. Wrap it up real good in a little parcel. Make sure there are no holes, otherwise you will have burnt, unusable weed.

4. Decarbing time! Put your weed in the oven for 25-30 minutes max. Stay close to the oven to catch any burnt odours. Ideally your kitchen smells like a 70's disco. If you hate the smell of weed, sorry.

5. Leave your weed to cool down for 15 minutes.

6. Prepare a bowl of peanut butter with some melted butter in it. Add in your cooled down weed and stir up well. You can add some Nutella to this to make it more fun.

7. Lather your special spread on your crackers/wine biscuits. Make a little tinfoil parcel for each edible.

8. Bake these for 20 minutes.

9. Let them cool down first and then enjoy!

These can be lethal! Please wait at least 45 minutes before deeming your edible ‘ain’t shit’ and having more.

Salient team tested and approved!

per aspera ad astra

Words by Francesca Pietkiewicz (she/they)

it’s a dark and dreamy memory somber siesta sobriety.

once submerged, you’ll see obsolescent truth sleepwalking seamlessly. the sunken sooth set free a loose thread, ready to heave.

entering into impermanence descend all dark-nervousness

it’s ad astra

again.

advancing now and then.

per aspera ad tenebris, by rough to dark, enter the abyss. learn how to stand ground higher than stars, and reminisce about set, setting and circumstances. post-emotional echo chamber and chances transcend trauma transition past another astral ancestral or grandmother.

anielica alabaster per aspera ad astra... ad tenebras what it means to be blind and bypass the galactic gaze of glazed adversity grazing for stars and apogee. walk backward, in time with moon rock debris.

living concordant to lunar calendarcancerous one lunaic landslide per cycle: cadaverous.

But this is the age of Aquarius, and you are Capricorn, contrarious yet, balanced by acceptance - unanimous your audacious ascendant rises roaring, as the fifth.

I see now it’s cerebral It’s myth.

here lies a transformation through difficulty. an illuminated philosophy awoken by stellar viscosity. The dark and dreamy memory.

Eeek! I’m not sure I like what the stars have to say about Aries this week… Seems like someone older is crushing on you. I’m thinking your manager at work, or maybe a tutor. Tread carefully.

If someone’s getting high this week, it’s you. Wait! I’ll start again. If someone’s getting high this week, and having a good trip, it’s you. Venus, the planet that loves a good time, beams bright and sends you one hell of a week.

Oh, Gemini. You keep making the same mistakes. Even I can’t save you from yourself. I sense a major freak-out (and the cheeky substances causing it). The good news? It won’t last forever.

You seem full of hope this week. There’s no denying it. I’m so proud of you for breaking the crabby Cancer stereotype! Your confidence? Boosted. Outlook? Optimistic. Faith in humanity? Restored.

Clashing with a friend again, are we? If you’re looking for validation, you’ve found it. You’re right. They are the person being a dick. This isn’t a ‘ditch the friend’ moment, but it is a ‘tell them off’ one.

You’re doing that thing when you have a shit day at uni and take it out on your significant other. I can already hear you, “But Horoscope Wizard! I’m single!” I don’t care. There’s someone you’re hurting. Cut it out.

I’m not sure I should make this bold claim, but I know I want to. Libra, you’re going to have a wild revelation this week. The answers you never thought you’d get are on their way! A past hurt will finally be resolved!

Why are you so cold all the time, Scorpio? You’re jealous of somebody and it isn’t cute. Not very slay. Set your ego aside and celebrate someone else’s achievements for once. In all honesty, you’re being an asshole.

You might have ambition, but you definitely don’t have any money. I see big creative plans and a lack of funds to set them in motion. Disappointing, but I’m not sure what you were expecting from your immature bank account.

There’s an issue with transportation, or lack thereof, for you this month. This has major ‘I grew up in Wellington and never learned to drive’ vibes. Or maybe just ‘I have a licence, but can’t afford a car’ vibes.

God, is money all you think about? I wrote about your financial woes last week as well. I hope you realise this is very boring for me. You better stop worrying about money by next week, or else I’ll start skipping your

After the chaos of last week, you are feeling a bit apathetic. Oh dear, Pisces has forgotten how to feel again. It’s okay. Your zodiac sign is contractually obligated to cry every other day, so you’ll be back to normal soon enough.

P U Z Z L E S

S n ac k s of the Week

Q u o t e of the

WORD OF THE WEEK: DRUGS (ILLEGAL)

NZ Sign Language

This is who I am, I can’t change it, I don’t want to change it… you’re discriminating against me… and I don’t tone down for anybody!!

“ “

Georgina Beyer on the Oversharers Podcast, October 2020 -

HARRY STYLES SPICY CUPCAKES

Ladies Only

ACROSS

1. Mouth organ (9)

5. Word that can precede cut, crust or jaw (5)

8. The Atacama and others; abandons (7)

10. Broad, tree-lined streets (7)

11. Where you'd find 23-Across (5,7)

14. 1999 hit song featuring the women in the shaded squares (5,6,4)

16. Location of a Netflix series that features a zombie Drew Barrymore (5,7)

20. Cargo for a train (7)

21. See 19-Down

22. Raises; elevates (5)

23. Country whose capital translates to 'fair winds' (9)

DOWN

1. Greek underworld, or the deity that dwells there (5)

2. Winfrey who interviewed Harry and Meghan in 2021 (5)

3. "___ not looking good..." (3)

4. Surviving without oxygen, like a microbe (9)

5. Second-hand item bought on a lot (4,3)

6. Come down in torrents (4)

7. Set aside; nature park (7)

9. Filmy, like stagnant water (6)

12. Sicilian volcano where, myth says, Vulcan's forge is (5,4)

13. Digging for gold or coal (6)

14. Aware, maybe while doing some colouring (7)

15. Citrus fruits (7)

17. 1980 sci-fi classic featuring the Xenomorph (5)

18. Sailing; completely lost (2,3)

19. With 21-Across, star of 'Tron' and 'True Grit' (4,7)

21. Massive (3)

✦ NGĀ MIHI ✦

THE TEAM

CO-EDITOR

CO-EDITOR

DESIGNER

SUB-EDITOR

STAFF WRITER

ARTS & CULTURE WRITER

Kamira Leach (they/them; Ngāti Kōnohi)

Takuma Ohashi (he/him)

Zeynep Todd (she/her)

Joanna Fan (she/her)

Ella Hoogerbrug (she/her)

Zia Ravenscroft (they/he)

Sibel Atalay (she/they)

Tolga Yenilmez (he/him)

SPECIAL THANKS

Padraig Simpson (Salient 2021 Designer)

Francesca Pietkiewicz (she/they)

Maia Ingoe (she/her)

Bella Maresca (they/them) @cupids.kiss

Willem Koller (he/they)

VIDEO CONTENT CREATOR Seren Ashmore (he/him)

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER

Alex Marinkovich-Josey (he/him)

PODCAST MANAGER

Ethan Manera (he/him)

NEWS EDITOR Zoë Mills (they/she)

NEWS EDITOR Niamh Vaughan (she/her)

CHIEF REPORTER

Bridget Scott (she/her)

SENIOR STAFF WRITER Tessa Keenan (she/her)

Pippi Jean (she/her)

Phoebe Robertson (she/her)

Jessica Arndt (she/her)

WRITING INTERN

Maia Armistead (she/her)

Kiran Patel (he/they)

STAFF WRITER

EDITORIAL SUPPORT