New Zealand Police are disappointed by the significant increase in drug use across the country, revealed in the latest quarter of wastewater testing.
Testing was conducted during the third quarter of 2024 (July, August, and September) at the 59 wastewater sites, which cover around 76% of New Zealand’s population.
Methamphetamine consumption was up substantially, with a more than 100% increase in use or over double the average quantity of the drug consumed per week compared with the previous four quarters. In real terms, that is an estimated average of 32.4kg of methamphetamine consumed per week.
All policing districts recorded above-average methamphetamine use when compared to the previous four quarters. It is estimated that methamphetamine use across sample sites in quarter three equates to around $34 million per week in social harm costs.
Cocaine use had an 86% increase, with all testing sites recording above-average cocaine consumption rates that equate to an estimated 5.5 kilograms used per week during this quarter.
MDMA use saw a 22% increase compared to the previous four quarters, with an estimated 8.5 kilograms of the drug used weekly. Half of the districts recorded above-average use of MDMA.
