Determinants of the retail price of illegal drugs in New Zealand.

Introduction: New Zealand has a number of unusual geographical features that may influence the price of illegal drugs including international isolation, numerous rural communities, and two separate islands (North and South Islands).

Aims: (1) Collect data on the prices of different drug types from all regions of New Zealand; (2) Identify independent predictors of the reported prices.

Method: An online drug survey was promoted via a targeted Facebook™ campaign.

Determinants of high availability of methamphetamine, cannabis, LSD and ecstasy in New Zealand: Are drug dealers promoting methamphetamine rather than cannabis?

Background: Small towns in New Zealand have reported high availability of methamphetamine, and conversely a shortage of cannabis. Stakeholders have suggested drug dealers are purposely promoting methamphetamine rather than cannabis.

Aims: (1) To compare the availability of methamphetamine and cannabis in different size communities; (2) Identify determinants of the high availability of methamphetamine, including low availability of cannabis.

Recent Trends in Alcohol and Other Drug Use Among Police Detainees in New Zealand, 2010-2015.

Background: New Zealand has unusual patterns of recreational substance use by international standards including low levels of cocaine and heroin use, and high methamphetamine use.

Aims: This paper examines recent trends in alcohol and other drug use among police detainees in New Zealand over the past six years.

Method: The paper utilises data from the New Zealand Arrestee Drug Use Monitoring (NZ-ADUM) study.

An exploratory study of the health harms and utilisation of health services of frequent legal high users under the interim regulated legal high market in central Auckland.

Aims: To explore health problems and the accessing of health services by frequent legal high users under an interim regulated legal market in central Auckland.

Method: Frequent legal high users (monthly+) were recruited from outside eight randomly-selected, licensed, legal high stores in central Auckland from 23 April-7 May, 2014. Eligible participants were emailed a unique invitation to complete an on-line survey; 105 completed the survey.

Do police arrestees substitute legal highs for other drugs?

Background: Some commentators have suggested legal highs (LH) might reduce existing illegal drug use and contribute to lower drug-related harm. However, no studies have specifically investigated substitution between LH and other drugs.

Aims: To explore the extent to which police detainees substitute LH for illegal drugs.