National Wastewater Testing Programme - Quarter 2 2021

Results are now available for the second quarter (2021) of nationwide wastewater testing, which covers around 75% of New Zealand’s population.

The drugs that have been tested for are methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, MDMA and fentanyl.

Key findings: April – June 2021 (Q2 2021)

• An estimated average of $6.9 million per week was spent on methamphetamine, MDMA and cocaine during Q2 2021.

Methamphetamine

• Of the drugs detected, methamphetamine remains the most prevalent illicit drug, being detected at all 46 testing sites nationwide.
• Methamphetamine use increased in May and June 2021, resulting in an overall increase in national methamphetamine consumption in comparison with Q1 2021.
• Detected methamphetamine use during Q2 2021 was 13 percent (1.4 kilograms) higher than the previous quarter Q1 2021. However, the average national weekly methamphetamine use (12.2 kilograms) during Q2 2021 is consistent with the average quantities detected over the previous four quarters.
• Per capita methamphetamine consumption was highest in Northland District.

MDMA

• Detected MDMA use remained low during Q2 2021, with quantities detected in April 2021 being the lowest recorded since wastewater testing began.
• The average weekly MDMA consumption for Q2 2021 (3.1 kilograms) was a 59 percent decrease (4.7 kg) when compared with the average quantities detected over the previous four quarters.
• Per capita MDMA consumption was highest in Southern District.

Cocaine

• Cocaine use remains low in comparison with methamphetamine and MDMA use.
• National detected cocaine use (0.8 kilograms) increased in Q2 2021 when compared with Q1, and was 36 percent (0.2 kilograms) higher than average quantities detected over the previous four quarters.
• Per capita cocaine consumption remained notably higher in the Auckland region than anywhere else in the country.

Fentanyl and Heroin

• Fentanyl was rarely detected above the limit of quantification in Q2 2021, and no patterns of use were apparent.
• Heroin was not detected at any of the testing sites during Q2 2021.