95bFM Two recent surveys show an increase in drug usage in Aotearoa
6 January, 2025
Interview by Sasha Mengazetdinov, adapted by Yesenia Pineda
In November, two new drug surveys; the Ministry of Health’s NZ Health Survey 2023/2024, and Massey University’s NZ Drug Trends Survey 2024 (NZDTS), were released, showing increases in drug use and availability, especially with cocaine.
Executive Director of the New Zealand Drug Foundation, Sarah Helm, told 95bFM’s The Wire that the two new surveys are really helpful for understanding drug usage in the country.
“You get a bit more information about how people might be using drugs and how they are accessing it, so [these studies] are really helpful. We also look at the wastewater and use it as a bit of an indication of how much is being consumed.”
She says the increase in cocaine usage can be linked to the production of the drug internationally.
“The production of cocaine has grown significantly, so there is an attempt to get it into new markets.”
The NZDTS also shows that the price of methamphetamine has been regularly decreasing and that active users have been using the substance more regularly.
The study finds 54% of those a part of the survey reported using the drug once a week, an increase of 44% from previous findings.
As well as this, Harding says other substances have seen an increase in volume and cheaper costs, which she says may also link to the increase of drug usage in Aotearoa.
In 2021, the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Act (DSCA, 2021) was passed, making drug testing legal in Aotearoa.
This move has faced some backlash from those concerned that legalising drug testing will incentivise more people into taking drugs, increasing their consumption.
However, Helm says there is no evidence that this is the case.
“What [drug testing] does is reduce harm, so the negative consequences [are] avoided by finding out what they have.”
She says now is the most important time to have these facilities on offer for those planning to take recreational drugs.
“Knocking on our doorstep, we have incredibly potent opioids coming from the Americas if you like. Next door in Australia they have had every class of drugs adulterated by a super potent opioid; a group of opioids called nitazenes, which are more potent than fentanyl, and so [the foundation] is very concerned about what our drug supply could be like in coming months and years.”
Helm says the best way to approach targeting drug usage is on a case-by-case basis, looking into why someone would use the drug, using a rational, evidence-based approach.
“The experience [someone] might have from taking a substance might feel quite different from what they were told, and so [the organisation] thinks a more balanced approach that helps people to develop critical thinking skills and make good decisions [is a better solution than using a blanket approach].”
