Methamphetamine is currently more available in New Zealand than cannabis.

Preliminary findings from New Zealand's first online Drug Trends Survey has found the class A drug is easily available in the Bay of Plenty, Northland, Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, Waikato, Manawatu-Wanganui, West Coast and Southland.

The study, carried out by researchers from Massey University's SHORE and Whariki Research Centre, aimed to measure the availability of alcohol and drugs and demand for help services for substance use problems in all regions of New Zealand.

Detailed analysis of the findings will be presented to the Ministry of Health and other government agencies later this month.

The anonymous online survey, promoted via a targeted Facebook campaign, was conducted from November 2017 to February 2018.

A total of 6100 people completed the survey. Participants were asked a series of questions about the availability of the drugs they had used in the past six months. Anonymised surveys were carefully reviewed to ensure high quality and consistent data.

"While there have been anecdotal reports around the country that meth is easier to obtain than cannabis, to date there had been no data available to verify these claims, or confirm the extent of the issue throughout New Zealand," says Lead researcher, Associate Professor Chris Wilkins.

"These findings suggest a need to further prioritise the focus on meth, rather than on cannabis. This could include increasing access to help services for substance use problems for people living in the regions."

Overall, 14 per cent of those who used cannabis described the current availability to be "very easy", while 54 per cent of methamphetamine users reported the current availability as "very easy".

"Only 14 per cent of the cannabis users could purchase cannabis in 20 minutes or less, while 31 per cent of the methamphetamine users were able to purchase methamphetamine in 20 minutes or less.”

This raises some serious questions concerning the supply of drugs and policy settings in relation to different drugs types, says Chris.

"Is the higher availability of methamphetamine the result of an intentional strategy by drug dealers who are seeking to maximise profits by promoting the sale of a more addictive drug type with a higher profit margin? Does the current supply reduction strategy need to be refocused on methamphetamine rather than cannabis?

"Methamphetamine is widely considered to be the more harmful drug, but cannabis is more vulnerable to routine law enforcement activity due to the space and time required to cultivate it, and its bulky and distinctive physical appearance and smell.”

Higher availability of methamphetamine relative to cannabis was found in all regions.

"In Northland, 65 per cent of users described the current availability of methamphetamine to be ‘very easy' compared to only 15 per cent for cannabis.

'Thirty two per cent of the Northland respondents could purchase methamphetamine in 20 minutes or less, compared to only 13 per cent who could purchase cannabis in 20 minutes or less.”

Regions where lower availability of methamphetamine was found were in Auckland, Taranaki, Wellington, Nelson/Marlborough, Canterbury and Otago.

Survey demographics

*Forty-five percent of the sample was female and the average age was 29 years old (range 16-87 years).

*Twenty-one per cent identified as Maori and 72 per cent Pakeha.

*Thirty-five percent had completed high school education, 33 per cent a polytech or trade qualification and 28 per cent had a university degree.

*Eighteen per cent were students, 11 per cent unemployed or on a sickness benefit and 65 per cent were employed.