Drug detections in New Zealand workplaces eased in the first quarter of 2026, but a sharp rise in opioid use is raising concerns for employers, according to new data from The Drug Detection Agency.
The agency’s latest Imperans report shows 3% of workplace drug screens returned positive results in Q1 2026, down from 4% in the previous quarter.
However, opioid detections increased 34.5% year-on-year, the largest shift of any substance, rising from 14.3% of positive tests in Q1 2025 to 19.2% in Q1 2026.
Chief executive Glenn Dobson says the overall decline masks more concerning underlying trends.
“The overall number may suggest things are moving in the right direction, but a year-on-year lens and the regional picture tell a different story,” Dobson says.
“Opioids, cannabis and ATS are expanding across multiple regions, and that is a risk employers cannot afford to overlook.”
Cannabis remained the most commonly detected substance, present in 68.1% of positive tests, broadly in line with last year. Amphetamine-type substances, including methamphetamine, declined 25.8% year-on-year, while cocaine detections rose slightly to 1.9%, remaining above Q1 2025 levels.
The data shows opioid detections increased across 11 of 16 regions, with the largest rises recorded in Taranaki, Northland and Auckland East.
Cocaine detections also increased in several regions, including Auckland West, the North Shore and Wellington, while cannabis and amphetamine-type substances showed mixed regional trends.
Dobson says the spread of opioids presents a particular challenge because it can be less visible in the workplace.
“Unlike substances that tend to produce obvious signs, they can be harder to spot in the workplace, and by the time the problem becomes visible, it may have already been ongoing for some time,” he says.
TDDA is urging employers to review drug and alcohol policies and consider regular testing programmes, particularly in safety-sensitive industries.
“If your workforce operates machinery, drives vehicles, or operates in safety-sensitive environments, an employee who is silently struggling with opioid use is not just a health risk — they are a safety risk to everyone around them,” Dobson says.
The report is based on testing conducted between January 1 and March 31 across TDDA’s nationwide network of clinics and mobile testing units.
