Increase in cocaine use in Queenstown
Police are concerned about an obvious increase in cocaine use in the Queenstown area, reflected in the latest monthly wastewater results, and warn all drug users that there’s no guarantee what they’re buying hasn’t been cut with potentially poison additives.
There’s generally an increase in illicit drugs in Queenstown’s wastewater during peak seasons – the party-going ski season no exception.
Otago Lakes Relieving Area Commander Paul Reeves says Queenstown’s a holiday destination and while the local population numbers remain static, drug use still appears to rise in the wastewater.
“Therefore, more people in Queenstown are contributing to the results than are accounted for, essentially raising the (per capita) consumption rate.”
He's warning people to “never assume the substance they have is what they have been sold”.
“Adulteration can occur anywhere along the supply chain, and this can lead to serious lifelong health effects,” Reeves says.
“We know people come to have a good time and we want them to enjoy themselves, but it is important they stay safe.”
Either way illicit drugs cause considerable harm in communities, from those suffering from addiction to the direct impacts on their families and friends, he says.
“Police see this harm and its impacts first-hand every day on the frontline, and we continue to work with our partner agencies to disrupt illegal activity.”
Queenstown Senior Sergeant Glenn Wilkinson is also warning drug users when buying MDMA, or other powder-type drugs, like methamphetamine and ketamine, that these are often ‘cut’ with other potentially toxic substances.
He says users are putting themselves at risk of being poisoned by the product’s additives which can be toxic when ingested or inhaled.
“The user has no way of knowing what is in the product,” Wilkinson says. While some of these cutting agents are inert and not harmful, others can be made up of all sorts of unknown chemicals, he says.
“Along with the harm caused by the drug itself the user puts themselves at risk of basically being poisoned by the product’s additives.
“No illicit drug is safe to consume, but if you’re taking drugs, you should be aware of the dangers and have someone you trust with you in case you need urgent help."
Police are encouraging people to sign up for High Alert – New Zealand’s drug early warning system which is aimed at keeping people safer. It offers notifications about particularly dangerous substances circulating in the community – highalert.org.nz.
Police say they’ll continue to focus on disrupting the supply of drugs and hold those to account who are financially gaining through this harm.
- Notify High Alert if you or someone you know experiences unusual or unexpected effects after taking a substance. This provides a picture of what’s going on across the country and helps keep others safer.
- If you have concerns about illegal drug use in your community, please call 111 if there is an immediate risk to safety or make a report via 105.
- You can also anonymously report information to Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Support is also available by calling People are able to get support by calling free and confidential services, such as:
- Alcohol and Drug Helpline: 0800 787 797
- Narcotics Anonymous: NZ 0800 628 632
- 1737 - free text/phone to speak with a trained councillor
- Youthline: 0800 376 633
