Drugs

Drug policy in New Zealand
www.moh.govt.nz/drugs

This page provides links to drug related policy, strategies and guidance produced by the Ministry of Health, often in partnership with other agencies. There are also links to other useful websites.

Choose from the topics below.

Latest news and updates

To keep up to date with drug policy news, refer to the news and updates section of the National Drug Policy website (www.ndp.govt.nz).

Drug policy in New Zealand: An overview

In New Zealand the National Drug Policy is the guiding document for policy and practices aimed at preventing and reducing drug-related harm in the community.

The National Drug Policy's key goal is to minimise the social, economic and health harms of tobacco, alcohol, illegal and other drugs. It does this through a balance of measures that:

control or limit the availability of drugs (supply control)
limit the use of drugs by individuals, including abstinence (demand reduction)
reduce harm from existing drug use (problem limitation).

Drug policy is a complex area that requires input and participation from a wide range of government and non-government agencies, including the Ministry of Health.

Having a strong interagency focus brings together health, justice, enforcement, social development and education agencies that are working towards the common goal of preventing and reducing the harms linked to drug use.

The National Drug Policy helps central and local government agencies and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to develop work programmes and action plans that fit into a national direction.

The objectives of the Policy are progressed through initiatives ranging from work by law enforcement agencies to seize illegal drugs, education to highlight the dangers of taking drugs through to alcohol and drug treatment services.

More information - National Drug Policy website

The National Drug Policy website (www.ndp.govt.nz) is an interagency government website that provides information relating to drug policy and strategies; the work of committees that have key roles in relation to policy and classification; and information about specific drugs.

Tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, and other drugs

New Zealand’s National Drug Policy divides substances that have psychoactive effects into four categories: tobacco, alcohol, illegal drugs, and other drugs.

For information about specific drugs, refer to the information below.

Looking for a publication?

If you’re looking for a publication and you know the title, browse publications by title: National Drug Policy website

Tobacco

Tobacco control and smoking - Ministry of Health website
Tobacco - National Drug Policy website

Alcohol

Alcohol - National Drug Policy website

Cannabis

Cannabis - National Drug Policy website

BZP ‘party pills’

Party pills - National Drug Policy website

Other drugs and related substances

Drugs and related substances, for example amphetamine-type stimulants, ephedrine and pseudoephedrine (used to make methamphetamine), fantasy, GHB, solvents, and kava.

Other drugs - National Drug Policy website

Medicine safety

The Medsafe website (www.medsafe.govt.nz) provides information on the regulation of medicines and medical devices in New Zealand and the safe use of medicines.

Data sheets list every drug approved for use, along with information about clinical trials, risks and who the New Zealand distributor is (useful for establishing how much of the drug is used in New Zealand). There are also recall notices and warnings on drugs available for use in New Zealand.

Publications

Ministry of Health drug-related publications - reports, reviews, surveys, guidance and other documents - are often produced in partnership with other agencies, and are made available on the National Drug Policy website.

Useful websites

Other websites that provide drug-related information.

National Drug Policy New Zealand (www.ndp.govt.nz)
Interagency government website that provides information relating to drug policy and strategies.

New Zealand Drug Foundation (www.nzdf.org.nz)
The Foundation is committed to reducing and preventing the harm caused by drugs in New Zealand. This includes social and health harms caused by legal drugs, such as tobacco and alcohol, as well as illegal drugs, such as cannabis.

Sorted (Community Alcohol and Drug Services - CADS) (www.cads.org.nz/sorted/)
CADS is an Auckland-based organisation providing education and counselling for those with alcohol or drug problems. Counselling and advice is also provided for family and friends concerned about another’s drug use.

Urge (www.urge.co.nz)
Urge/Whakamanawa is a youth (health) and information service designed to assist young people find useful information or resources to help them regarding a variety of youth related topics.

Australian Drug Information Network (www.adin.com.au)
The Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN) provides a central point of access to quality Internet-based alcohol and drug information provided by prominent organisations in Australia and Internationally.

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Page last updated 15 July 2008.