New insights have lifted the lid on Kiwis’ ecstasy use - while raising concerns about how the illicit drug is being paired with binge-boozing. Use of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, E or Molly, has been on the rise in New Zealand, with about 4% of Kiwis reporting having tried the controlled Class B substance recently. Today, it’s the country’s second most commonly used illicit drug after cannabis.
The amount detected in national wastewater testing in the last quarter of 2023 equated to some 67,000 doses a week. Until now, however, users’ relationship with ecstasy hasn’t been explored in depth in Aotearoa. “Understanding consumption behaviours is important as it allows us to find out what is going on ‘out there’ and guide our decision-making regarding where we might make the greatest impact with targeted harm reduction efforts,” Otago University researcher Jai Whelan said.
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