MDMA and cocaine use increased across New Zealand at the end of last year, Police's quarterly Aotearoa-wide wastewater study shows.
Wastewater covering three-quarters of New Zealand's population is tested for drugs including meth, MDMA, cocaine, fentanyl and heroin.
The latest study analysed samples collected a week each month between October and December (Q4).
"MDMA consumption across sample sites increased in Q4 2023, averaging an estimated 8.4 kilograms per week," police said.
The results also showed cocaine consumption "continued to slowly increase in Q4 2023 to an average of 2.7 kilograms per week".
Both cocaine and MDMA use were above average in all measured regions for the December quarter.
The highest amount of weekly MDMA use was found in wastewater in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Southern.
