Summarised by Centrist
New data from The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) shows a steep rise in methamphetamine detections during workplace drug testing.
Meth accounted for nearly 25% of non-negative results in March, up from just under 14% in January.
“Meth use is no longer a big-city issue,” said TDDA CEO Glenn Dobson. “We’re seeing high rates of detection in smaller regions like Central North, The Lakes, and Taranaki. This has serious implications for safety and productivity.”
The top five regions for meth detections were Central North (30.6%), Taranaki (27.9%), Auckland East (25.8%), Taupo/Rotorua (25%), and North Harbour (23.6%).
TDDA says the surge aligns with wastewater data and an increase in supply.
The spike in workplace meth use comes as courts continue to see large-scale supply cases. On the same day TDDA released its figures, Sunia Mano To’ofohe was sentenced to nearly 15 years in prison after police found 11kg of meth, firearms, cash, and other drugs at his Lower Hutt home. Police said the meth could supply the Wellington region for over two months.
Read more at Scoop and The NZ Herald
Image: Find Rehab Centers
