Cocaine use rising rapidly in NZ, overtakes MDMA in some regions

Cocaine use is rising so rapidly in New Zealand it is replacing MDMA as the most commonly used party drug in some regions, police say.

Concerns for both police and health services are growing, as the Class A drug is generally much more addictive than substances like MDMA, ketamine, and LSD.

National Drug Intelligence Bureau manager Tim Chao told 1News cocaine use was already surpassing MDMA use in some "party town locations".

A quarterly police study sees wastewater from around three-quarters of New Zealand's population tested for several drugs, including MDMA, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl.

Nationally, cocaine use has increased by 86% towards the end of last year when compared to the year before.

Chao said testing data also showed cocaine use has quadrupled since January 2022.

Results suggest Auckland, the Bay of Plenty and Southern regions are using the most per capita, with the least in the Tasman region.

Cocaine had a reputation as a "party recreational drug used by the paparazzi, media stars, the accountants, lawyers, Wolf of Wall Street type stuff", Chao said.

"What we're seeing now is - with the growing availability - that spread of cocaine right across New Zealand. It's not just in our urban environments, but our rural environments and is much more spread across the social demographic."

Chao said users needed to know they were funding violence and exploitation in the cocaine supply chain.

He said: "Before you go out and satisfy yourself and you have a great time at the party, just have a think about what you're doing. How do you feel about the gang violence?

"How do you feel about domestic violence? How do you feel about exploitation of these people in sourced countries? You know, you're funding that and you're contributing to it."

An annual Massey University survey of more than 10,000 drug users signalled in 2017 that 6% of users said cocaine was becoming easier to find. That number rose to 24% last year.

Historically, New Zealand's distance from cocaine-growing countries such as Peru and Colombia meant poor supply, but the United Nations has estimated record production of the drug has meant it is spreading into new markets.

Cocaine worth hundreds of millions has been intercepted at the border in recent years but police do not know how much is making it through undetected.

Rotorua-based addiction counsellor Kevin Hollingsworth (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine) said a "real interest" had been seen in people using cocaine to "fill that void" while they are waiting for methamphetamine to arrive.

"It's easier to get, it's cheaper than methamphetamine."

Impacts on users varied significantly, Hollingsworth added.

"Erratic behaviour, driving fast, driving under the influence, not being present to their children, their partners."

He said more focus in reducing cocaine use was needed on the demand as opposed to the supply.

"Look at prevention measures, harm-reduction strategies, education in schools in a real big need, I believe."

Drug Foundation executive director Sarah Helm told 1News cocaine sometimes caused "compulsive redosing" for users craving regular highs back to back.

"We really need to ramp up addiction support."

She was concerned that a lot of people were buying other substances sold as cocaine.

"In the lead-up to Christmas, about 30% of the cocaine that had come into our drug check clinic was not what the person thought it was.

"It was anything from sugar to boric acid."