Overall drug detections rise nationally, cocaine detections up 148%
AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 19 February 2026 – The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), New Zealand’s largest workplace drug testing provider has launched its Q4 Imperans Report, a quarterly workplace drug trends report. The report empowers New Zealand employers to engage in proactive workplace risk management. It provides them with an analysis of drug and alcohol usage trends, combining results from across the country.
In Q4, 4.01% of screens conducted by TDDA indicated the presence of drugs (Q3: 3.75%).
Cannabis remains the most prevalent substance detected in workplace drug testing, although detections eased in many regions following a Q3 peak.
ATS detections were up nationwide in Q4, representing a modest quarter-on-quarter increase. Cocaine detections, while remaining comparatively low overall, jumped 148% from the previous quarter.
Among all positive TDDA results, the most prevalent substances detected were:
· Cannabis: present in 67.5% of positive tests, down 3.6% from 71.1% in Q3 2025.
· ATS, including methamphetamine: present in 24.5% of positive tests, up 1.2% from 23.2% in Q3 2025.
· Opioids, including oxycodone: present in 18.6% of positive tests, up 0.02% from 18.6% in Q3 2025.
· Benzodiazepines: present in 2.9% of positive tests, up 0.7% from 2.2% in Q3 2025.
· Cocaine: present in 3.7% of positive tests, up 2.2% from 1.5% in Q3 2025.
The data points to three broad shifts in substance use patterns nationwide. Increasing regional divergence in amphetamine-type substances (ATS), easing THC (Cannabis) detections after a Q3 peak, and a concerning rise in cocaine, significantly in Bay of Plenty, Auckland West and Waikato.
Full regional stats can be found here: https://tdda.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Imperans-Graphs-NZFINAL-19.02.26.pdf
“We warned employers in previous quarters that cocaine use was increasing across the nation, and Q4 data shows that this trend nearly doubled over the festive season,” says Glenn Dobson, CEO of TDDA. “This increase was particularly evident in Bay of Plenty, Auckland West, and Waikato. Businesses in the Bay of Plenty area need to take action immediately, as cocaine detections, which barely registered previously, rose to 9% of positive tests. Cocaine causes overconfidence, reduces focus and concentration, correlates with bad judgement and causes erratic behaviour. If you’re doing business in an affected region, employee education and testing are immediately advised. There’s significant risk for businesses with heavy machinery, you don’t want your workers operating chainsaws while on cocaine.”
Regional highlights
TDDA tracks regional fluctuations in substance use to help employers better manage workplace safety risks through targeted testing, education, and early intervention.
Drug Detection Rate in Auckland West, Bay of Plenty and Waikato.
Q4 data shows that drug trends are increasingly diverging by region, rather than moving in a single national direction. ATS recorded sharp increases, particularly in Auckland West, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Northland, Southland, and Wellington, while easing in some areas including Canterbury, Manawatū-Whanganui and Taranaki. At the same time, cannabis detections declined in many regions after peaking in Q3, although some areas, including Gisborne and Canterbury, experienced a bounce-back. Opioids use also increased across multiple regions, especially in Otago, Taranaki, Tasman and Wellington, reinforcing the need for closer monitoring.
“What this data reinforces is the need to stay proactive,” says Dobson. “As the year gets underway and businesses recruit, onboard new staff, or adjust workforce needs, clear expectations become critical. Fit-for-purpose substance use policies, supported by pre-employment testing, regular testing programmes, and ongoing training and education, help organisations manage risk early and prevent issues from arising on the job.”
Recommendations
“When growth in detection continues across successive quarters, or when drug trends change significantly, it’s a signal employers shouldn’t ignore,” says Dobson. “As summer months continue past the holidays, the priority is stopping trends from becoming established behaviours in your workplace. That requires clear expectations through policy, consistent testing, and early intervention, particularly as people move into new roles or return to work after long weekends.”
TDDA recommends that companies review and update substance use policies at the start of the year, ensure pre-employment testing is clearly embedded into recruitment processes, and maintain regular and random testing programmes. Employers are also encouraged to invest in training and education, so managers feel confident identifying when testing is appropriate, particularly following extended leave periods or during onboarding.
With people moving between roles and workplaces, a proactive approach to policy review, pre-employment testing, and workforce education can help employers reduce risk, protect their people, and maintain safe workplaces throughout the year.
Methodology: Tests from 27 sterile clinic locations and over 60 mobile clinics throughout New Zealand were used. All tests were taken between 1 October and 31 December 2025. Data from preemployment, post incident, regular and random testing has been combined. Testing methods included urine and oral fluid screening. Data is reported into, anonymised, and aggregated using TDDA’s Imperans system, a bespoke IT platform for testing services, data recording, and reporting. It represents a snapshot of drug trends across Australasian workplaces and industries.
Total figures on testing volumes or testing results by industry and region are commercially sensitive.
TDDA drug tests screen for amphetamines; benzodiazepines; cocaine; methamphetamine; opiates and opioids; cannabis; and synthetic drugs.
About the Imperans Report
The Imperans report addresses an information gap for business. Government organisations like ACC and WorkSafe publish incident reports, but they do not quantify when substances are a factor. Reports build businesses’ understanding of substance use patterns regionally and temporally so that they can anticipate and reduce workplace risks. TDDA provides over 250,000 tests every year.
About The Drug Detection Agency
The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) is a leader in workplace substance testing with more than 300 staff, 90 mobile health clinics, 65 locations throughout Australasia. TDDA was established in 2005 to provide New Zealand and Australian businesses with end-to-end workplace substance testing, education and policy services. TDDA holds ISO17025 accreditation for workplace substance testing in both AU and NZ. Refer to the IANZ and NATA websites for TDDA’s full accreditation details. As members of the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) and the California Narcotic Officers Association (CNOA), TDDA closely follows and acts on global drug trends.
Learn more about TDDA by visiting https://tdda.com/.
