Cocaine consumption in New Zealand has almost doubled – although use is still very low – a new report has found.
The Drug Foundation’s latest study uses wastewater testing, as well as the national health and drug trends surveys, to paint a picture of illicit drug use in New Zealand.
Executive director Sarah Helm said 56,000 people (1.3 percent) used cocaine in the 2022/2023 year, which is a 93 percent increase on the previous three years’ average.
But she said that number was relatively small compared to other countries.
“We have a very low base and compared to international cocaine use it’s very, very low. However, that is a big change in a relatively short space of time.”
Helm said drug use in New Zealand reflected what was available and a bump in cocaine use could signal an influx from overseas.
“We know from international information from the UN and others that the international production of cocaine has significantly increased. They’re looking for new markets and trying to break into markets where there hasn’t been a lot of cocaine consumption previously.”
She said there have been a number of recent record cocaine busts by police and NZ Customs, but that had not eliminated supply.
Hellbound and Down 