Revealed: The regions where workplace cocaine use spiked 266%, meth by 200%
Cocaine and methamphetamine use in the workplace is climbing, with cocaine’s share of total positive tests nationwide jumping 117% compared to the previous year.
That’s according to the latest quarterly report from The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), released today.
“It is the highest level seen in a year outside of seasonal holiday peaks, and Auckland’s North Shore is establishing itself as a hotbed of activity,” chief executive Glenn Dobson said.
The North Shore accounted for 11.5% of positive tests for cocaine in the July-September quarter, a 266.1% leap compared to the previous year.
Most positive tests nationwide are for cannabis (69%), followed by methamphetamine (25%) and opioids (18%).
Even though cocaine’s share was only 3.2%, this was more than double the previous year’s share, according to TDDA’s Imperans quarterly report.
TDDA is the country’s largest workplace drug tester, and its report includes workplace testing and screening results from 87 clinics (including 60 mobile clinics) across the country.
“This quarter, our Imperans data points to a concerning shift in cocaine,” Dobson said.
“We warned businesses in the South Island in particular last quarter, and now it’s expanding to the North Island.
“Detections suggest that organised crime has found a suitable supply chain and they continue to identify markets, like Auckland’s North Shore, where the drug can be sold effectively.”
He said cocaine impairs the mind by producing “misplaced confidence”.
“On safety-critical sites, where split seconds matter, that combination can turn deadly. In the office, that same overconfidence can lead to reckless and poor decisions under pressure.”
Positive workplace results for meth dropped as a share of all positive tests compared to the previous quarter, but were higher than the previous year – especially in Wellington and Otago.
“Wellington saw over a 200% increase in positive results, and businesses in the area need to understand the signs of use and have a plan in place to manage workers,” Dobson said.
This correlates with wastewater testing data, which has shown an upward trend in methamphetamine and cocaine consumption in recent years, though meth consumption has fallen in the most recent quarter.
Regional differences also suggested an increase in cannabis use in Gisborne, where workplace positive results jumped 193% compared to the previous year.
In Taranaki, positive cannabis results in the workplace rose 110% compared to the previous quarter.
The regional sample sizes are likely to be small, however, which means they’re more susceptible to large fluctuations; TDDA wouldn’t release the regional or quarterly sample sizes due to commercial sensitivity, though it said the total number of tests per year was 250,000.
“Ahead of the holiday season, I’d recommend going through your health and safety checklist, and ensure it includes a comprehensive drug and alcohol policy and action plan for the worst that could happen,” Dobson said.
“With the right system in place to handle a situation, you can maintain a healthy and productive workforce, even through the silly season.”
TDDA drug tests screen for amphetamines, benzodiazepines, cocaine, methamphetamine, opiates, opioids, cannabis and synthetic drugs.
Poly-drug use, where multiple drugs are present in the same test, is common.
A “positive result” in the report is a non-negative initial screening result, not all of which proceed to further testing due to, for example, employee resignation, withdrawal of consent or “logistical limitations in sample viability”.
Derek Cheng is a senior journalist who started at the Herald in 2004. He has worked several stints in the press gallery team and is a former deputy political editor.