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National Wastewater Testing Programme - Quarter 3 2022

National Wastewater Testing Programme - Quarter 3 2022

Date Published: 
February 2023

Results are now available for the third quarter (2022) of nationwide wastewater testing, which covers around 75% of New Zealand’s population.

The drugs tested for are methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, MDMA and fentanyl. During Q3, fentanyl was detected in very small quantities in two districts. This was within the normal range of variation. Heroin was not detected in reportable quantities during Q3.

Key findings: July – September (Q3 2022)

  • Population updates were applied in January 2022, these have impacted the per capita data for some districts. Most notably, the population update for Northland district resulted in a 27 percent decrease in per capita consumption rates. This means the per capita results from Q1, Q2 and Q3 2022 cannot be directly compared with results from previous reports. Further information is available from the NDIB.
  • Social harm cost estimates have been included in this report. These are derived from the New Zealand Illicit Drug Harm Index 2020 (McFadden M, Bellamore L & MacDonald B. (2021). The New Zealand Illicit Drug Harm Index 2020: Research report. Wellington: Ministry of Health). The Drug Harm Index 2020 provides a conservative measure of the harms associated with the use of illicit drugs in New Zealand and considers both personal and community harms.

Methamphetamine

  • An average of 13.5 kilograms of methamphetamine was consumed across sample sites per week in Q3 2022. This was below the average quantity detected over the previous four quarters (19 percent or 3.1 kilograms).
  • Per capita methamphetamine consumption was highest in Northland District.
  • The 13.5 kilograms of methamphetamine consumed equates to an estimated cost of $14.9 million in social harm per week in Q3 2022.
  • Approximately $4.7 million per week was generated from methamphetamine distribution across New Zealand sample sites in Q3 2022.

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)

  • An average of 4.8 kilograms of MDMA was consumed across sample sites per week in Q3 2022. This was below the average quantity detected over the previous four quarters (28 percent or 1.9 kilograms).
  • Per capita MDMA consumption was highest in Southern District.
  • The 4.8 kilograms of MDMA consumed equates to an estimated cost of $0.66 million in social harm per week in Q3 2022.
  • Approximately $1.4 million per week was generated from MDMA distribution across New Zealand sample sites in Q3 2022.

Cocaine

  • An average of 0.98 kilograms of cocaine was consumed across sample sites per week in Q3 2022. This was above the average quantity detected over the previous four quarters (70 percent or 0.4 kilograms).
  • Tāmaki Makaurau continued to consume the most cocaine per capita in Q3 2022.
  • The 0.98 kilograms of cocaine consumed equates to an estimated cost of $0.29 million in social harm per week in Q3 2022.
  • Approximately $0.39 million per week was generated from cocaine distribution across New Zealand sample sites in Q3 2022.