Workplace opioid detections rise 35

A new quarterly workplace drug trends report is prompting New Zealand employers to reassess how they manage health and safety risks, as rising opioid detections offset an overall decline in positive drug tests.

The Drug Detection Agency’s Q1 2026 Imperans Report shows that 3.0% of workplace drug screens returned positive results, down from 4.0% in the previous quarter. While this suggests some improvement, the underlying data reveals more complex and potentially more concerning shifts in substance use.

Most notably, opioid detections have surged 34.5% year-on-year, marking the largest increase of any drug category. This rise stands in contrast to declining detections of amphetamine-type substances (ATS), including methamphetamine, and relatively stable cannabis use.

“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,” says Glenn Dobson, CEO of the TDDA.

Changing patterns, not disappearing risks

The report highlights three key trends shaping workplace drug risks:

A decline in overall detection rates,
A significant and sustained rise in opioid use,
Cocaine detections easing from a late-2025 spike, but still trending upward year-on-year.

Opioids now account for 19.2% of all positive tests, up from 14.3% a year earlier. Cannabis remains the most commonly detected substance at 68.1%, while ATS detections have dropped significantly to 23.2%. Cocaine detections, while relatively low at 1.9%, remain above 2025 levels, suggesting a gradual increase rather than a short-term spike.

“Opioids, Cannabis and ATS are expanding across multiple regions and that is a risk employers cannot afford to overlook,” Dobson says.

“Unlike a sudden spike in cocaine detections, these are slow-moving and more consistent trends that embed themselves into workplace culture before most employers even notice.”

He adds that cocaine should not be dismissed as a risk factor. “While Q1 detections (1.9%) have retreated from the Q4 peak (3.7%) – likely driven by the Christmas and summer holiday period – levels remain above this time last year, which may point to a steady and increasingly entrenched supply network.”

Regional differences complicate the picture

The data shows that drug trends are not uniform across the country, reinforcing the need for region-specific approaches.

Opioid detections increased in 11 of 16 regions, with particularly sharp rises in Taranaki, Northland, and East Auckland. In Taranaki, opioid detections jumped from 6.3% to 30.4%—the largest increase recorded for any substance in any region.

Cocaine detections also rose in several areas, including West Auckland, the North Shore, and Wellington.

Cannabis use, while broadly stable nationally, is increasing in regions such as Gisborne, Tasman, and Manawatū-Whanganui. Meanwhile, ATS detections, despite a national decline, are rising sharply in places like Gisborne, Bay of Plenty, and Southland.

These regional variations highlight the limitations of a uniform, nationwide approach to workplace drug management.

Why opioids present a different kind of risk

One of the key concerns raised in the report is the nature of opioid use, which can be harder to detect in a workplace setting compared to other substances.

“What this data reinforces is that a one-size-fits-all approach to workplace drug management is no longer sufficient,” Dobson says.

“Opioids are quietly but persistently spreading across the country. 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.”

For employers in safety-sensitive industries, this presents a significant challenge.

“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.”

What employers should do next

The report recommends that employers take a more proactive and tailored approach to managing drug and alcohol risks.

Regularly reviewing policies to reflect current regional trends is a critical first step. Where detections are rising, implementing or strengthening workplace testing programmes, including pre-employment, random, and regular testing, can provide early warning signs.

Equally important is investing in education and training so managers can identify risks early and respond appropriately. “If a testing programme is not yet in place, or has not been reviewed for some time, addressing this should be a priority,” Dobson says.

He also emphasises the importance of early intervention.

“Combining this with ongoing training and education to ensure managers are equipped to have early, supportive conversations with employees, rather than waiting for an accident to happen, also creates a more comprehensive approach.”

A shift employers can’t ignore

While headline figures may suggest improvement, the underlying trends point to a more nuanced reality. The rise of opioids, in particular, represents a slower-moving but potentially more embedded risk, one that requires closer attention and a more adaptive response from employers.

For many organisations, the message is clear: workplace drug risks are evolving, and policies need to evolve with them.