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Information & Advice

All substance use brings a risk of harm. Be informed about your drug use....

Policy & Advocacy

This section includes details of the areas that the NZ Drug Foundation is actively working on....

Strategic Direction | Mahere Rautaki 2013-17

This page provides both a download and a summary of the NZ Drug Foundation's Strategic Direction 2013-17....

Māori MPs reconsider drug law

A succession of reports show that Māori are affected significantly more than Pākehā by our drug laws. Russell Brown looks into the issues an......

Tobacco

Leaves from the tobacco plant contain nicotine, which is the active chemical in cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff or snus....

Matters of Substance - February 2016

Since 2009, the government has had a $63 million windfall of cash and assets forfeited under proceeds of crime law, half of which is attribu......

Peer Crowds

Drug policy talk at Q Station, Sydney

Being sequestered at an abandoned quarantine station in Manly provided the perfect location for some deep thinking about drug policy researc......

Matters of Substance

Our regular Matters of Substance magazine is one way we share the best writing on drug policy and practice based on the best evidence availa......

Matters of Substance - July 2017

In the July 2017 issue of our magazine we introduce Whakawātea te Huarahi, hit the road in the USA, hear from Johann Hari, and more....

Matters of Substance - March 2017

In the March 2017 edition, we examine some new police initiatives aimed at reducing drug crime recidivism and increasing community engagemen......

Matters of Substance - November 2016

It's been a big year, with some major milestones in drug policy world. Much has been achieved, but challenges a plenty remain explains Execu......

Matters of Substance - August 2016

The Drug Foundation's Executive Director Ross Bell says drug law reform is no longer the political poisoned chalice it once was....

About Us

Find out what the NZ Drug Foundation stands for, our plans and achievements, and who is involved....

What we do

Get an overview of the NZ Drug Foundation's work....

Statement of principles

An outline of the principles behind the work of the NZ Drug Foundation....

Board and Management

Details for the Board members and staff of the NZ Drug Foundation. Updated May 2017....

Synthetic cathinones

Shulgin was known to many as the “Godfather of ecstasy”

Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin was born on 17 June 1925 and died, aged 88, at home in California on 2 June 2014....

Doing LAPs

With few Local Alcohol Plans (LAPs) in place, communities are forced into being reactive when faced with new applications for liquor licence......

Face Trashed

Alcohol marketing on social media is cheap, successful and legal. But researchers say New Zealand should be attempting to control marketers’......

Drug law reform needed to end Māori over-incarceration, says Drug Foundation

The government must urgently act to end the persistent failure by the criminal justice system to address disproportionate Māori reoffending ......

Privacy & Cookies

Being Safer

If you are using drugs, it is important to know the risks, your rights, and what you are using....

Mythbusters - Death by withdrawal

Can a person chronically dependent on alcohol really die if they abruptly stop drinking? Or is this just another clever excuse not to part w......

Matters of Substance - August 2011

The Alcohol Reform Bill, back from the select committee, will bring the most sweeping changes to hit the hospitality industry in 20 years....

The benefit in doubt

Welfare beneficiaries who use alcohol and drugs are likely to be targeted under a new, tougher regime if recommendations by the Welfare Work......

US Elections bring big win on cannabis ballots

Amidst the media storm about the election of Donald Trump to President of the United States it was easy to miss the other big news on 8 Nove......

Helping Someone

Drug use doesn’t always lead to dependence or addiction....

Responding in a crisis

Helping a loved one who shows up needing help...

Start a conversation when things are slipping

Tips for conversations about the challenges a student is facing that may be getting in the way of their education....

Workplaces

Managing alcohol and other drug use in the workplace....

Effective alcohol and drug policies

An employer should provide employees with the highest level of protection from risks, as is reasonably practicable. Dangerous behaviour resu......

Drug testing isn't always the answer

It is important for employers and employees to understand their rights, responsibilities, and facts when it comes to drug testing....

Drug Index

Get harm reduction information about common drugs in New Zealand. Each page describes the effects of using, advice for reducing risk, signs ......

Drug Foundation supports Minister's drug policy process

The Drug Foundation welcomed drug policy minister Jim Anderton’s announcement today to consult with the wider community before changing the ......

Alcohol

Alcohol is produced when grains, fruit or vegetables ferment and are distilled....

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are medications prescribed as sleeping pills, muscle relaxants, and to help treat anxiety, epilepsy and alcohol withdrawal....

Heroin

Heroin is the most potent type of drug created from the opium poppy. It typically comes as a white or brown powder....

Matters of Substance - May 2016

The Drug Foundation's Ross Bell calls bullshit on the current hysteria about meth-contaminated houses....

NBOMe

NBOMe is a potent group of synthetic hallucinogenic drugs that mimic LSD and have been linked to many deaths overseas....

Cannabis

Cannabis is a preparation of the Cannabis Sativa plant that is used as a drug and medicine....

Order printed information about alcohol and drugs for Kiwi teenagers

If you're regularly talking with teenagers and young people, it can be difficult knowing what to tell them about drugs. It's important to re......

Kiwis excited to experience a month off alcohol

Starting this Sunday, New Zealanders from around the country are taking part in FebFast, an annual fundraising campaign that challenges part......

Methamphetamine

Methamphetamine (meth) is one of a number of amphetamine-type drugs. Some have medical uses and are made by pharmaceutical companies....

New campaign to help young New Zealanders Steer Clear of drug driving

A new campaign which shows young New Zealanders that cannabis can impair driving, and which supports young people to find alternatives to dr......

MDMA

Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is a chemical stimulant and the active ingredient in ecstasy....

Pledge Me: Help expand drug checking

Cocaine

Cocaine is a highly processed form of the coca leaf. It is usually a white odourless powder....

Drug Use in NZ

The basic facts about what drugs are available and regularly used in New Zealand....

Drug Law Reform

The Misuse of Drugs Act is outdated. It is time for modern drug law fit for the the 21st Century. The Drug Foundation is working for change....

Wellington Declaration

Reshaping New Zealand's alcohol and other drug policy. The Wellington Declaration was the collective wisdom of a group of 67 organisations ......

Taking a whole school approach

We need to acknowledge that alcohol and drugs are part of our society, and preparing students to take their place in society means working t......

Rūātoki hui

We're hosting a hui in the Rūātoki, Eastern Bay of Plenty, on 31 August 2017 to talk about how drug law harms many Māori, and solutions to t......

Majority backs cannabis law change

A majority of the public favours a change to the legal status of cannabis according to a new poll commissioned by the NZ Drug Foundation....

Free Drug Checking

The Drug Foundation is calling for drug checking services to be available at venues such as festivals and nightclubs, to reduce harm caused ......

Whole School Approach

To effectively ensure young people can thrive in a world where drugs exist, a Whole Schools approach is being promoted....

More Kiwi women open up about their struggles with booze

Living Sober's online community’s manager and Editor-in-Chief Lotta Dann today launched her second book, Mrs D is Going Within....

Win a copy of new memoir by Living Sober’s Editor in Chief, Mrs D

Win a copy of Mrs D is Going Within by simply retweeting or sharing a giveaway post by NZ Drug Foundation or Matua Raḵi from their Facebook ......

febfast kicks off with a bang, still time to register

febfast kicked off 28 days of booze free bliss with a bang over the weekend and there is still time to register, febfast coordinator Natalia......

febfast lite for sevens hangover

People who overdid it at the Wellington Sevens last weekend can give their livers a break for the rest of February by signing up to febfast....

Resources

We can send you resources about healthy approaches to alcohol and other drugs....

Statement to the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem

New Zealand Drug Foundation civil society statement to the plenary of the UN General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem...

Leading New Zealanders join global letter calling for end to 'drug war'

Aotearoa New Zealand Leaders Join Over 1,000 Worldwide Calling for End to "Disastrous" Drug War Ahead of UN Special Session...

Bringing the perils of drug driving to the Wellington waterfront

Visiting Wellington this week is a public education campaign which challenges drivers who think driving after smoking cannabis is okay....

Contact

Get our mag

Get a hardcopy of our stunning magazine, posted to your every three months. Crammed full of news, features, commentary and more....

Model Drug Law to 2020

The Drug Foundation is calling for a complete overhaul of our drug laws. A new model drug law sets out our thinking....

Membership

Join the NZ Drug Foundation. Find out about membership packages....

Help is available

Drug law harms many Māori, it's time we talked hui.

It's time to talk about drug law, and the harms it causes to Māori ensnared in the justice system because of minor drug offences. Hui in Te......

LSD

LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide or ‘acid’) can come as an odourless white powder, but is most commonly available in squares of blotting pape......

Looking after yourself

Even when your loved one really wants to change, being a successful support person isn’t easy....

GHB

Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) was originally synthesised for use as an anaesthetic. Gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL) is a more potent version of GHB....

Open mic for gay men to talk sex and drugs without shame

Chemsex is believed to be on the increase amongst gay men, but it can expose participants to risk. A recent event encouraged men to speak op......

Festival drug checking: Trying to save lives

The drug checking team will be back doing the rounds at music festivals this summer, practicing harm reduction and trying to save lives....

Briefing to the Incoming Parliament 2017

In December 2017 all MPs were sent a comprehensive briefing setting out drug policy priorities for the next three years. Download the full r......

New approach to dealing with drug use by HNZ tenants a welcome move

The Drug Foundation welcomes the Government’s announcement that Housing New Zealand will adopt a new policy when it detects methamphetamine ......

It’s going to take more than a referendum to sort out NZ’s drugs issues

In a new policy briefing sent to MPs, the Drug Foundation lays out drug policy priorities for the next three years....

Government’s medical cannabis bill will address current barriers

The Drug Foundation welcomed the government’s announcement to establish a government-run medical cannabis scheme as part of its First 100 Da......

New Zealand Government must step up efforts to end the death penalty

Australian death penalty experts to visit New Zealand – Monday 21 September 2015...

FebFast 2015 to tackle NZ's rape culture

The New Zealand Drug Foundation is partnering with Rape Prevention Education for FebFast 2015, which will challenge participants to experien......

News, Media & Events

Read all the latest news, media releases and event notices/ reports from the NZ Drug Foundation....

Shifting to drug law that works for Māori: Kaikohe Hui Report

Concerns at worrying levels of drug use within some communities in Northland underpinned calls for action at a hui run by the Drug Foundatio......

Disclaimer Policy

Students, drugs, and alcohol

Problems with substances start early - half of all New Zealanders with a substance dependence issue were already dependent by the time they ......

Videos that create conversations

These short videos were created to help people have conversations with young people about alcohol and other drugs....

2009 Through the maze: healthy drug law, international drug policy symposium

The Through the Maze: Healthy Drug Law symposium was held in Wellington to discuss a number of drug-related local issues, including the revi......

2011 Through the maze: making treatment better symposium

Experts from around New Zealand, and from overseas, gathered in Wellington on Tuesday 30 August for a Drug Policy Symposium organised by NZ ......

Parenting and substance use

Tips for parents and carers....

Schools

It's important that students are equipped to live in a world where alcohol and drugs exist....

HR17: Harm reduction from the users' perspective

Crucial lessons for New Zealand: Last month two Drug Foundation staff, Samuel Andrews and Gilbert Taurua travelled to Montreal, the architec......

International spotlight on drug driving

The lack of a thorough understanding about the complex issue of drugs and driving must not be an excuse for inaction – this is the theme of ......

New website reaches New Zealand's hidden problem drinkers

People struggling with their alcohol use now have a new online place where they can go to get help anonymously from others with similar expe......

Medical cannabis report disappointing

A report on medical cannabis published yesterday by the Health Select Committee is a disappointing once-over glance at a medicine that is of......

Amnesty period needed for 'legal high' possession

Police should hold off prosecuting people for possession of psychoactive products for the next six months, the New Zealand Drug Foundation u......

Use powers in existing law says Drug Foundation

The announcement of changes to the Psychoactive Substances Act to remove currently approved ‘legal highs' from sale is disappointing due to ......

Op-ed: Law change a comedown for legal high industry

Novel psychoactive substances first appeared in 2001, since then governments have repeatedly failed in attempts to ban this problem away bec......

1/3 of NZ families affected by alcohol and drug problems

A third of New Zealanders have a family member who has experienced negative effects in their life due to alcohol or drug use, research commi......