The price of meth in New Zealand has shown another decline in price in the latest survey findings.
Other findings include high availability and declining prices for illegal cannabis since the NZDTS began, and nicotine vaping surpassing tobacco smoking for the first time.
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. The NZDTS aims to provide an annual snapshot of drug trends in New Zealand to inform policy debate, help services, and harm reduction initiatives.
Professor Chris Wilkins from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University’s SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre says, “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 availability increased in 2024 compared to previous years, with availability particularly high in Auckland, Northland, Waikato, Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty. Use of cocaine increased in all regions.
“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.”
He adds that there has been growing availability of LSD and other psychedelics, as well as price declines over the past seven years, perhaps reflecting new digital supply sources including social media and darknets, and interest in therapeutic use. 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.”
There were reports of a further stabilisation of the MDMA market in 2024, following some contraction in 2022, most likely due to supply disruptions caused by COVID-19. Concerns have also been raised about high potency MDMA.
“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. 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.”
The NZDTS indicates that the availability of cannabis remains very high in New Zealand, and prices have marginally declined 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. 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.”
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 is conducted by the New Zealand Drugs Research Team at Massey’s SHORE & Whāriki Research Centre. The Team consists of Professor Chris Wilkins, Dr Marta Rychert, Dr Robin van der Sanden, Dr Jose Romeo and Thomas Graydon-Guy.
The NZDTS was completed by 10,781 New Zealanders from around the country between 20 Ferbuary and 3 July 2024.
Read the full 2024 NZDTS bulletins.
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