The Socio-Economic Impact of Amphetamine Type Stimulants in New Zealand

Publications

The Socio-Economic Impact of Amphetamine Type Stimulants in New Zealand

Date of publication: Sep 2004

A report commissioned by Police into Amphetamine Type Stimulants drug use in New Zealand highlights the impact of drugs such as methamphetamine and ecstasy in incidents involving violence.

The research was conducted by Massey University’s Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation and surveyed frequent methamphetamine users, drug enforcement officers, drug treatment workers and analysed drug treatment statistics and a pilot study of the drug use of arrestees conducted in a police watch-houses.

Key findings include:

Frequent methamphetamine users were more likely to be involved in criminal and violent activity
ATS are now serious drugs of abuse in New Zealand
The level of amphetamine use among 15-19 year olds may be higher in NZ than in Australia
The illicit trade in ATS drugs is of the equivalent dollar value as the illicit trade in cannabis, but the drug is in addition to all other existing drugs rather than replacing them
Availability of these drugs is “very easy” or “easy”.

Document availability

This publication is available in PDF format.

The Socio-Economic Impact of Amphetamine Type Stimulants in New Zealand (PDF, 523 KB)

Related information

The following research briefings are available in PDF format from the SHORE (Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation) website:

Level of Use and Health Harms (I)
The Black Market for ATS and Use of ATS by Arrestees (II)
Future Trends in the Use and Supply of Methamphetamine (III)

National Drug Policy New Zealand

Publications

The Socio-Economic Impact of Amphetamine Type Stimulants in New Zealand