April 01, 2026

#hauora: Drug checking services are being urged to expand their reach

Matthew Tukaki Posted On April 1, 2026

Drug checking services are being urged to expand their reach as drug use in Aotearoa continues to grow and diversify.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri has released its latest annual report, showing increased demand for its services, with a 12 percent rise in drug samples tested at public clinics over the past year.

The report also highlights that more than 40 percent of people using the service were first-time visitors, indicating growing awareness but also unmet need in communities.

The Foundation says drug checking plays a critical role in harm reduction, particularly as the drug market becomes more unpredictable. Testing allows users to understand what substances they have and reduces the risk of serious harm, including overdose.

Findings show that 12 percent of substances tested were not what people believed they had purchased, meaning hundreds of individuals were able to avoid potentially dangerous outcomes.

The data also points to changing patterns of drug use, with increases in substances such as cocaine, steroids and other performance and image enhancing drugs, as well as certain medicines and sedatives.

The Foundation says the legal, free and confidential nature of drug checking services allows them to monitor these shifts and respond quickly, including by providing targeted harm reduction information and alerts to the wider community.

It says continued expansion of the service will be essential to keeping people safe as drug trends evolve.