Methamphetamine was recently ranked New Zealand’s second-most harmful drug behind alcohol, and is the country’s most injected drug.
Injecting drugs is associated with additional risks such as vein and soft tissue damage, bacterial infection and blood-borne virus transmission. Many of these harms have been reduced by the work of the national Needle Exchange Programme, which provides sterile equipment and education to those who need it.
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This notification is to let you know heroin has been detected in a white powder that was sold as an unknown benzodiazepine in the Auckland region. People who consume this powder believing it to be a benzodiazepine are at risk of experiencing harm.
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Strong growth in the number of people getting their drugs checked is reassuring against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile drug supply and a surge in consumption, the NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri says.
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Drug checking is a free, legal and confidential service that saves lives and reduces harm by telling people what’s really in their drugs and sharing harm reduction information with them.
It also prevents harm in the wider community by alerting people to dangerous substances that are in circulation.
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Benzodiazepines, benzos, trip killers, Xannies: whatever you call them, it’s important to know that these drugs are not all made equally. In fact, a benzo you get from a doctor is unlikely to be the same as one you might buy online, off a mate or from a dealer.
Recently, we’ve seen drugs sold as benzos turn out to be something completely different. This includes potent opioids like nitazenes, synthetic cannabinoids and different benzos.
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It's important that you don’t drive if you’re impaired – whether that’s from alcohol, other drugs, medication, fatigue, or stress.
Drugs contribute significantly to harm and death on our roads – according to Waka Kotahi, they are present in nearly a third of all fatal crashes.
To try and address this, Parliament recently passed a law that will enable Police to conduct random roadside saliva drug tests. While many details are still being worked out, it’s expected that roadside drug testing could be rolled out by the end of the 2025, with a target of 50,000 tests conducted per year.
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In this article we talk to Winner Tian, General Manager of Asian Family Services about a study that has found that Asian New Zealanders use alcohol and other drugs at higher rates than previously thought.
Winner Tian was reading the latest NZ Health Survey when he noticed something interesting:
The number of Asian New Zealanders reporting cannabis use has tripled in the past decade.
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A drug harm reduction service has seen the number of drug checks it carries out across the country soar by almost seven times within a year.
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A new benzodiazepine has been detected in New Zealand in a variety of forms, including tablets pressed to resemble legitimate pharmaceutical benzodiazepines.
How to identify the drug:
- Blue tablet
- White Xanax bar
- White powder
- Sold as diazepam and bromazolam
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Between 2010 and 2022–2023, the proportion of gay, lesbian and bisexual people drinking alcohol at risky levels (which includes drinking more than 10 standard drinks per week on average or more than 4 standard drinks in a single day at least monthly) declined from 50% to 40%. These declines were driven by both a reduction in the proportion drinking more than 10 standard drinks per week (from 39% in 2010 to 28% in 2022–2023) and a similar reduction in the proportion drinking more than 4 standard drinks in a single day at least monthly (from 45% to 36%).
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The harms created by drug laws are staggering to behold, both globally and closer to home.
Take the violence associated with the illicit drug market – one of the silent harms of prohibition that we see in Aotearoa, driven by ‘cracking down’ on those who use and sell drugs. This only fuels conflict, tension, and overdoses by forcing trade underground and increasing the risk of people taking drugs of unknown quality.
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The war on drugs has failed in its stated goal of reducing drug use and sale, and has instead has resulted in a devastating trail of trauma, pain and suffering for families and communities, with communities of colour facing the harshest impact.
Globally, Black, Brown and Indigenous people are disproportionately targeted for drug law enforcement and face discrimination across the criminal system. They face higher rates of arrest, prosecution and incarceration for drug offences, despite similar rates of drug use and selling across races.
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Wastewater testing has revealed in the second half of last year New Zealand consumed meth at the highest levels ever recorded.
Just over 15kg of meth was being detected each week in June 2024.
But the next month, meth use nearly doubled to 29.2kg each week. The trend continued for the rest of the year with weekly consumption above 30kg each month until December.
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Recently, vapes containing etomidate have been identified in New Zealand. What is it and what are the risks?
In recent months, vapes containing etomidate have been identified in New Zealand, including at drug checking clinics run by our partners. This is in line with international trends, especially in Asia, where there has been an increase in reports of the misuse of etomidate via vaping over the last year.
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The Pill Testing for Queensland Alliance (PT4Q), which includes the support of AMA Queensland, wrote to Queensland Premier David Crisafulli in response to his decision to allow drug testing to proceed at Schoolies in 2024, and to urge continued funding for fixed pill testing sites.
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This notification is to let you know a new synthetic cannabinoid known as AB-MDMSBA was found in a white powder presumed to be a benzodiazepine in the Auckland region. This is the first time AB-MDMSBA has been detected in New Zealand.
AB-MDMSBA appears structurally similar to other synthetic cannabinoids, but we know very little about its specific effects. Other synthetic cannabinoids have been linked to serious harm including deaths in New Zealand.
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Opioid substitution treatment is where people who are addicted to opioids (like heroin or morphine) can get a similar medicine instead. This helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and means people can regain stability and improve their health. Here’s what you need to know about opioid substitution treatment.
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Cocaine is on the rise in New Zealand. We’ve been hearing more people saying they’ve had an unpleasant time - especially when using cocaine while they’re drinking alcohol.
When you take coke and drink alcohol together, they combine to make a drug called cocaethylene. These are the only two drugs known to make a new drug inside your body.
Mixing any drugs together can be risky, but this combo is particularly common and it pays to know what to watch out for.
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A new class of synthetic opioids is becoming prevalent. Find out how to keep yourself safer.
Nitazenes are a group of strong synthetic opioids and can be over to 10x more toxic than fentanyl. They produce strong sedative/depressant effects, and have been linked to drug related deaths, both internationally and in New Zealand.
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Mixing any combination of drugs and alcohol can be dangerous. The impact on your body and mind become even more unpredictable, and harder to manage.
Many drug-related deaths happen when drugs are mixed because it causes a reaction you didn’t expect. This includes mixing drugs with alcohol. While not taking any illicit drugs is always the safest option, there are a number of steps you can take to stay safe.
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We’ve seen an increase in harm caused by GBL-type substances in New Zealand recently. Make sure you understand the risks…
GBL-type substances (GBL, GHB and 1,4-BD) are central nervous system depressants, which means it slows the body down. They're colourless, odourless liquids that’s usually taken orally in small doses. They are also known as G, fantasy, waz, or rinse.
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Cocaine use in New Zealand is not uncommon. Here’s what you need to know about it.
Cocaine is a white crystalline powder, and it’s highly addictive. It’s made from a paste extracted from the leaves of the South American coca plant.
As a strong stimulant that affects the body’s central nervous system, it essentially disables the mechanisms that recycle noradrenalin, serotonin and dopamine released in the brain. This means that the amount of these chemicals temporarily increases. It’s also a local anaesthetic.
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If you take a lot of stimulant drugs like MDMA, meth or coke, you can overdose. This is known as overamping. Stimulants speed up your body functions. Taking a large amount of one or more stimulants can put a lot of strain on your body.
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Almost half of New Zealanders will experience mental health challenges in their lifetime. There are lots of medicines – like antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers - that can be used to help with these challenges, however many of these can be risky to mix with drugs.
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Whether you’ve having a chill one by the beach or going full tilt at a festival, we’ve pulled together our best non-judgmental drug info and advice to help you keep summer sizzling.
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A drug checking service has warned festival goers that partaking in risky drug taking could put a downer on their fun.
KnowYourStuffNZ general manager Casey Spearing said combining MDMA, also known as ecstasy, with alcohol was one the most widespread high-risk behaviours they saw at summer festivals.
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The holiday season can be a time of celebration and stress. There is a rise of alcohol and drug consumption during the period. This happens for different reasons; sometimes alcohol and/or drugs are used when gathering to celebrate with family and friends, or substances are used as a coping mechanism to escape or numb the hardships they experience at this time of the year. For many people, the holidays are a difficult time, because of financial stressors, grief, trauma, or other personal issues.
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People will be able to check what's in the drugs they plan to take as part of a trial authorities hope will prevent deaths at music festivals.
NSW will permit a 12-month trial of pill-testing at music festivals beginning in early 2025, a practice some other states have already adopted and expanded.
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A potent synthetic opioid was detected in fake oxycodone tablets seized by the New Zealand Customs Service. The tablets were found to contain either N-pyrrolidino isotonitazene OR N-pyrrolidino protonitazene.
These substances come from a class of highly potent synthetic opioids known as nitazenes. Pharmacological data suggest nitazenes exhibit potency similar to, and in some cases greater than, fentanyl.
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Several music festivals will not offer drug testing this summer, according to New Zealand's main drug checking agency for events. It has been three years since New Zealand first started allowing drug testing organisations to work legally at festivals. KnowYourStuffNZ general manager Casey Spearing said seven upcoming festivals - which they had previously attended - had declined their services.
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New Zealand Customs Service have seized a new synthetic cathinone, N-isopropylbutylone, at the border. This is the first confirmed detection of this substance in New Zealand. This substance was also identified in a sample of presumed MDMA at a drug checking clinic within the last week. It is currently unknown how widespread this substance may be.
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Drug decriminalisation, regulated cannabis trials, more pill testing and syringe programs are on the list of health reforms demanded by Australia's largest specialist medical society.
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) is the collective voice of more than 30,000 specialists across Australia and New Zealand, from 33 different specialties including addiction medicine, public health, and general medicine.
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Heroin is a strong opioid drug made from the opium poppy. In New Zealand, ‘homebake heroin’ refers to heroin produced from pharmaceutical codeine or morphine.
Heroin is a depressant, meaning it slows down your brain and body functions. It can make you feel euphoric, warm, and sleepy and temporarily relieve pain. Heroin can also make you feel groggy, itchy, and nauseous and cause slowed breathing and loss of consciousness. As heroin is about 4x as strong as morphine, it carries a high risk of overdose.
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Heroin has been found in a white powder that was sold as cocaine within the Auckland region. People who consume this powder thinking its cocaine are at high risk of experiencing serious harm, including death.
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The world’s decades-long response to HIV is at an inflection point. Despite successes, the world is currently not on track to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
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A significant increase in drug use and availability is a concern and shows a need for an increase in support and harm reduction, says the NZ Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri.
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The Beyond The Valley music festival will be Victoria's first pill testing trial site, Premier Jacinta Allan has confirmed, and more are set to be unveiled.
About 35,000 are expected to attend the three-day festival that runs from 28 December to 1 January and will be held at Barunah Plains in Hesse, west of Geelong — about 1.5 hours from Melbourne's CBD.
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The nature of the trans experience for me, and many, is of being forcibly politicised from a young age. Our existence is debated by people with little understanding of it, and often with no consideration for our lived realities. This is especially relevant now, as we find ourselves in the midst of a culture war that none of us asked to be part of. I find it important to share my own experiences and those of my community.
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The first findings from the 2024 New Zealand Drug Trends Survey (NZDTS) show a decline in the price of meth, increasing cocaine use and availability and an increased availability of psychedelics.
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The toxic chemical mercury chloride has been detected in a white powder presumed to be MDMA in the Wellington region. Mercury chloride is very toxic to humans and should not be consumed. It does not have any psychoactive effects.
The substance is believed to be circulating in the Wellington region and may possibly be present in other regions. The concern is people may already have this substance believing it to be MDMA, or that this substance may continue to be supplied as MDMA. It is important to never assume that what you have is what you are being told it is. Misrepresentation can occur anywhere along the supply chain.
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On Monday evening Rodger Wright needle exchange staff proudly invited clients in, showing them the new, self-funded space, renovated for them. Named after Rodger Wright, one of the first men to speak openly about his experience with HIV/AIDs and advocate against it’s stigma, the needle exchange has become the busiest in the South Island.
It is the only clinic in New Zealand with a Hepatitis C clinic and exchange with the highest test and treatment rates in the country, it was long overdue.
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This guide was created as a small collaborative effort by some trans people at NHRC. We’ve tried to bring the nuance and wholeness of our lived experience that covers a wide range of roles as both providers and participants. To this end, we put together a broad selection of tips for harm reductionists on both ends of that spectrum. These tips are neither universal nor exhaustive. This is merely a snapshot of our experiences, general beliefs, and suggested best practices across the fluid and intersectional positions we occupy in the Harm Reduction movement.
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The government says we'll have roadside drug testing in place by the end of the year. It's been a long time coming, but some say it could make roads even riskier.
The government's roadside drug testing scheme is a step closer to being rolled out, but drug experts are warning it could penalise people using prescription medicines and force them to use other, undetectable and potentially more dangerous substances.
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The Global State of Harm Reduction is the only report that provides an independent analysis of harm reduction in the world. Now in its the ninth edition, the Global State of Harm Reduction 2024 is the most comprehensive global mapping of harm reduction responses to drug use, HIV and viral hepatitis.
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There is a kernel of truth in Mike King's widely derided comments about alcohol and mental health, the boss of the Mental Health Foundation has acknowledged.
King made a comment that alcohol was a “solution for people with mental health issues” in a NewstalkZB interview on Wednesday.
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The latest report published by the New Zealand Drug Foundation (2024) on International Overdose Day harshly reflects systemic issues and inequalities, highlighting how these issues exacerbate risks faced by people who use drugs. Data collected from 2016 to 2023 reveals 1,179 accidental overdose reports in Aotearoa.
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The New Zealand Drug Foundation has issued an urgent warning following the discovery of potentially lethal levels of methamphetamine inside a Rinda-branded pineapple lolly. Lab analysis from a drug checking clinic located in Auckland revealed 3 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a single lolly. Equating to almost 300 standard doses, this exceeds typical ingestion levels and poses a serious risk of fatal overdose. Potential symptoms of methamphetamine toxicity include but are not limited to chest pain, seizures, hyperthermia, delirium and loss of consciousness. Individuals experiencing these symptoms post-consumption should seek immediate medical attention by contacting 111, additionally, 0800 POISON (0800 764 766) is available by phone for round-the-clock advice.
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The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme is looking for a National Practice and Policy Lead who will be responsible for establishing, leading and supporting our organisation to enhance its harm reduction capabilities. The role spans policy and practice development, training and development, quality assurance, service development and will work closely with our National Harm Reduction Lead. The position description link.
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NZNEP National Harm Reduction Lead, Jason George spoke to StuffNZ about the response to the hospitalisation of 12 people in the Wairarapa region, calling for the scaling up of drug checking services around NZ.
In response to the hospitalisations, the NZ Drug Foundation is working with the NZNEP to provide a pop-up drug checking clinic at the NZNEP Masterton branch on Thursday 30th June 2022 from 12-4pm as well as increasing the availability of Naloxone nasal spray and Fentanyl testing strips.
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A balance sheet shows treatment for HIV is our most successful public health programme ever. The bottom line of some new data is that the New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme has doubled its return over the last 20 years, indicating less is spent now than it was in the early 2000s on treating HIV, also hepatitis B and C, and other injection-related injuries.
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The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme has been approved and Gazetted to provide drug checking services at needle exchange outlets and Parliament has voted to pass the Drug and Substance Checking Legislation Bill (No 2) into law.
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NZNEP National Operations Manager Philippa Jones and Harm Reduction Lead Jason George met with Christchurch Labour MPs Dr Megan Woods, Sarah Pallett & Dr Tracey McLellan today to talk about the benefits of our service and shared some real stories of how the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 impacts the lives of people who use drugs.
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The Needle Exchange Services Trust (NEST) is pleased to announce Philippa Jones has been appointed to the position of National Operations Manager for the New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme.
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The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme (NZNEP) has launched an online shop to make the service more accessible and to reduce the need for in-person visits in response to Covid-19. For the last 33 years the NZNEP has distributed equipment from dedicated needle exchange outlets, mobile services, pharmacies and a small number of other locations that are part of the NZNEP.
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NZNEP Harm Reduction Lead Jason George and Dr Rhys Ponton from the University of Auckland co-authored a letter published in the New Zealand Medical Journal on 13/3/20 warning of a possible increase in opioid overdoses in New Zealand due to a change to the morphine products available in New Zealand. The changes will see Arrow long acting (LA) morphine discontinued in New Zealand leaving m-Eslon morphine capsules as the only long acting morphine formulation available. The change will have minimal impact on patients but there are potential consequences for the illicit opioid scene.
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Whilst there are a number of risk factors, people who inject drugs bear the burden of Hepatitis C with 95% of new infections occurring within the injecting community. People who inject drugs make up a sizeable proportion of the 25,000 New Zealanders that we estimate are unaware that they may have hepatitis C.
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Today marks the 6th International Harm Reduction Day, a day focussed on promoting evidence based public health policy, practices and human rights.
Established over 30 years ago, the New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme is one of New Zealand’s most successful public health programmes. Last year the programme distributed 3.75 million needles. Internationally, HIV prevalence amongst people who inject drugs is 13%, in New Zealand it is just 0.2% largely due to the early introduction of needle exchange.
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The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme welcomes the government’s announcement this morning, and its long awaited response to our current public health crisis relating to synthetic drugs.
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We welcome the release of the Mental Health and Addictions Inquiry’s Report this morning. The report is a comprehensive analysis of the current challenges within our mental health and addiction sector and we look forward to digesting the 219 page report in full.
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At the New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme, we welcome the report released yesterday by Sense Partners and the New Zealand Drug Foundation.
As a drug user-based programme, this is an issue that is particularly important and very personal to us. We’ve long argued for a health-based approach and the research shows that this is the most effective response in addressing drug harms. With this report, we now have the economic evidence.
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The NEP continued its ongoing presence at the Big Gay Out and its support for the rainbow community by attending the Ending HIV Big Gay Out.
Unfortunately the event for the first time in 10 years was cancelled on the day due to heavy rain and health and safety issues. However, NEP rainbow staff were set up early in our specially designed t shirts and engaged with the community prior to the event was cancelled.
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A research study into the efficacy of rapid testing in needle exchanges funded by a grant from ABBVIE has recently been completed. Over 200 clients across 3 sites on the West Coast, Christchurch and Dunedin participated in the study which involved the administration of a finger prick test and following up testing/referral to treatment by needle exchange staff. As people who inject drugs bear the burden of hepatitis C and usually don’t access mainstream services due to fear of stigma and discrimination, this study was critical in establishing the validity of new services being provided in the exchanges themselves. As the needle exchange is a peer based, peer led programme, NZNEP has a credibility within the injecting drug using community.
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"I do not think it is possible to have the perfect solution ... when the position is ... a balance of awfulness" said Dr Michael Bassett, the minister of health, as he introduced a bill that created the world's first, state-sponsored needle programme for intravenous drug users.
It was 1987 and David Lange's Labour Government and much of New Zealand were spooked by the arrival of Aids in this country.
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This weekend will mark the 30th anniversary of legislation to support the implementation of one of New Zealand’s most successful public health programmes. The New Zealand Needle Exchange Programme has been leading harm reduction in New Zealand for 30 years.
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