This year’s edition of an annual survey has shed light on the current state of New Zealand’s drug landscape — revealing long-term trends in drug availability, price, and use.
The findings showed “signs of a saturated methamphetamine market”, with prices dropping, while cocaine use and availability were increasing.
The 2024 New Zealand Drugs Trends Survey (NZDTS) also found that psychedelics were increasingly available in Aotearoa, while illegal cannabis was declining in price and was highly available.
“Another notable finding from the 2024 NZDTS is that the use of nicotine vapes has surpassed tobacco smoking for the first time among respondents.
“The NZDTS has been conducted annually since 2017 and can now present longer-term trends in drug availability, price, and emerging drug use for all 16 regions of Aotearoa New Zealand, based on the anonymous online reports of over 10,000 people,” a statement from Massey University, which conducts the research, said.
“The NZDTS aims to provide an annual snapshot of drug trends in New Zealand to inform policy debate, help services, and harm reduction initiatives.”
The survey drew on responses from 10,781 New Zealanders from around the country between February 20 and July 3, 2024.
Health researchers fear more Kiwis could get their hands on class A drugs as new international suppliers enter the market. (Source: Breakfast)
Methamphetamine
Professor Chris Wilkins from the university’s SHORE and Whāriki Research Centre, which studied health and well-being, said: “There are signs of a saturated methamphetamine market in New Zealand, with record low prices for points and grams of methamphetamine, particularly in Auckland, Bay of Plenty, and Waikato.
“This is consistent with reports of new international supply sources from North and South America, with Mexican cartels reportedly offering methamphetamine at less than one third of the price of established Asian producers.”
Cocaine
Kiwis’ cocaine use increased in all regions, the survey found.
The drug’s availability also increased; it’s particularly available in Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty.
“While the use and availability of cocaine has noticeably increased in 2024, likely reflecting a global glut in coca production and attempts by organised crime groups to diversify markets, use in New Zealand remains fairly infrequent and prices have not declined to stimulate wider consumption,” Wilkins said.
Psychedelics
The availability of LSD and other psychedelics was growing, the research showed — and prices have been dropping for the past seven years.
The changing situation might reflect “new digital supply sources including social media and darknets, and interest in therapeutic use”, Wilkins said.
“There have also been new policy approaches to psychedelics in a number of countries, including Australia and the United States.
“There is some evidence that psychedelics can help with certain mental health conditions, including treatment-resistant depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and in some cases treatment of chronic pain and drug dependency.
“Policy reforms have sought to facilitate these therapeutic uses and support additional research by allowing use in therapeutic contexts under supervision, and the decriminalisation of small amounts for personal use,” Wilkins added.
MDMA
After the MDMA market contracted in 2022, “most likely due to supply disruptions caused by Covid-19”, it stabilised more this year.
And concerns have been raised about high potency MDMA, the university’s statement said.
“Reports of high potency MDMA appear to be related to an increase in the size of pills, and these larger pills — over 400mg — have been reported in New Zealand,” Wilkins said.
“Large pills increase the dosage and potential for negative side-effects, including raised body temperature, seizures, irregular heartbeat and overdose.
“Users should be aware of the risks of larger pills and take smaller amounts to gauge strength.”
Cannabis
Cannabis availability remains “very high” in New Zealand, the study found, and prices have “marginally” dropped over the past five years.
“A significant minority of respondents grew some of their cannabis, some of which may be for medicinal purposes.
“Home growing of cannabis may in part be a response to the barriers to obtaining a prescription for legal medicinal cannabis and accessing legal supply in rural areas under the new medicinal cannabis scheme,” Wilkins said.
“International research shows that small-scale cannabis cultivation for personal and social supply has been increasing in many countries. This has been facilitated by the online availability of information, advice and online purchase of equipment and seeds.”
Data shows vaping has overtaken smoking but smoking rates have now begun to rise for the first time in a decade. (Source: 1News)
