2014 NZ Arrestee Drug Use Monitoring Annual Report released

The latest New Zealand Arrestee Drug Use Monitoring Programme Report (NZ-ADUM) has found that the proportion of detainees drinking prior to their arrest fell from 41 percent in 2013 to 30 percent in 2014.

The NZ-ADUM study is an annual Massey University study that has been funded by Police since 2010.

During the 2014 study 832 detainees were interviewed and 212 urine samples were taken at four police watch houses between April 2014 and July 2014. The study compares the 2014 findings with research from the previous 4 years.

Assistant Police Commissioner Malcolm Burgess said the report also shows the proportion of male detainees who had drunk five or more drinks in a single session in the previous month declined from 83 percent in 2013 to 77 percent in 2014.

Mr Burgess said the reduction is a positive indicator and may be a result of the Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 which came into effect in December 2013.

“We want to see people adjusting their drinking habits and their expectations around the availability of alcohol as a result of the Act, but it is early days and too soon to confirm that this reduction is a direct result of the new law.”

Mr Burgess said that while the data sample is only collected from a small group of users, their experience of the drug market provided additional information for analysis by Police.

“The study contributes to our understanding of the drivers of crime, documents the harm of substance use and helps identify the emergence of new drug types,” Mr Burgess said.

The survey participants were interviewed at Whangārei, Auckland Central, Wellington Central and Christchurch Central watch houses.

Participation is optional and all information provided remains confidential.

ENDS

© Scoop Media