The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA), has released its Q3, 2025 workplace drug and alcohol findings. 

This quarter the most pressing issues for employers include:

•             Cannabis detections jumped nearly 8% nationwide

•             Opioid positivity rates remain stubbornly high and remain at 18.6% 

•             Cocaine trends upward in Tasman, Canterbury, The Lakes and North Shore

The Imperans Report provides New Zealand employers with an analysis of drug and alcohol usage trends, combining results from around the nation to empower businesses to engage in proactive workplace risk management.

This quarter, 3.75% of the screenings conducted by TDDA indicated the presence of drugs. THC (cannabis) remains the most prevalent substance detected in workplace drug tests, accounting for 71.1% of total positive1 testing. Recent data also indicates a generally stable trend in opioid detections, however regions such as Gisborne recorded a sharp quarterly increase of 41.7%.

These results suggest shifting patterns in substance use that requires greater employer awareness and policy reinforcement.

Below are substances detected nationally and compared to Q2 levels from TDDA’s testing results2:

•             Cannabis (THC): was present in 71.1% of positive tests, up 7.9% from 63.3% in Q2 2025.

•             Amphetamine-type substances (ATS), including methamphetamine: were present in 23.3% of positive tests, down 7.7% from 31% in Q2 2025.

•             Opioids: were present in 18.6% of positive tests, down 2.6% from 21.2% in Q2 2025.

•             Benzodiazepines (BZO): were present in 2.2% of positive tests, down 2.5% from 4.7% in Q2 2025.

•             Cocaine: was present in 1.5% of positive tests, down 0.2% from 1.7% in Q2 2025.

Overall detections have remained relatively steady but are accompanied by a marked increase in cannabis use. It’s a concern for employers ahead of the holiday season where, traditionally, usage increases during the summer months.

TDDA recommends that companies review and update drug and alcohol policies as well as to consider return to work testing, to train managers to recognise the signs of use, particularly the subtle signs of prescription medications, and to ensure regular and random drug testing to deter misuse and protect workplace safety.

“Reinforcing policies now can prevent difficult conversations or accidents between employers and employees. Talking about return to work testing reminds people that safety doesn’t take the holidays off and everyone needs to come back to work fit for duty,” adds Dobson. “It’s about balancing goodwill with responsibility.”

You can find the full report here: https://tdda.com/new-zealand-imperans-q3-report-state-of-workplace-drug-use-from-tdda/.