NZ Drug use Surges in all districts covering 77% NZ -Waste Water Study Q4-2025
New data from NZ Police wastewater testing — and it demands our attention.
Released today, Q4 2025 figures confirm what many working in harm reduction have feared: cocaine use has hit an all-time high in Aotearoa, now exceeding MDMA for the first time on record.
The numbers are stark. To put that in perspective: wastewater testing now covers up to 77% of New Zealand’s population. These aren’t estimates from surveys or self-reported data. This is what we’re finding in our drains.
Every district in the country recorded higher-than-usual cocaine use. Every single one.
At Advance Diagnostics, we work alongside employers who are trying to maintain safe workplaces in this environment. And the reality is that drug use doesn’t stay at home. It arrives at worksites, on roadsites, and in high-risk environments — often invisibly, until something goes wrong.
This data isn’t a reason for alarm. It’s a reason for action — measured, proportionate, and grounded in evidence.
If your organisation doesn’t yet have a fit-for-purpose drug and alcohol management programme in place, now is the time to have that conversation. We’re here to help.
Reach out to the Advance Diagnostics team to learn more about workplace testing, policy development, and staff education.
| Source: NZ Police wastewater testing data, Q4 2025. Published 1News, 23 March 2026. Annualised equivalents and population estimates produced by Advance Diagnostics for illustrative purposes. Street value approximate. Advance Diagnostics — Trusted workplace drug & alcohol management solutions. |
Source: NZ Police wastewater testing data, Q4 2025. Published 1News, 23 March 2026.
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