Drug checking in New Zealand: the 2020 and 2021 drug and substance checking legislation acts
Drugs, Habits and Social Policy
ISSN: 2752-6739
Article publication date: 11 October 2022
Issue publication date: 7 December 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the context and implications of the New Zealand Drug and Substance Drug Checking Acts 2020 and 2021.
Design/methodology/approach
This discussion provides a description of legislative changes about drug checking in the New Zealand context, alongside a critical analysis of the interlinked factors surrounding these important pieces of legislation.
Findings
The legalisation of drug checking is an important harm reduction development in the New Zealand context, although overregulation of licensing requirements should be avoided, as well as overly punitive responses to peer service providers who may have criminal convictions. The new regulations should also ensure that innovation around new technology or products tested is not stifled.
Originality/value
New Zealand is the only country to introduce permanent national legislation to legalise drug checking, and as such analysis of the legislation is of interest to the international community.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Wendy Allison from KYSNZ, Carl Greenwood from the NEP and Kali Mercier from the NZDF who answered questions about the history of drug checking in New Zealand and the 2020 and 2021 DSCAs.
Citation
Hutton, F. (2022), "Drug checking in New Zealand: the 2020 and 2021 drug and substance checking legislation acts", Drugs, Habits and Social Policy, Vol. 23 No. 3, pp. 200-206. https://doi.org/10.1108/DHS-03-2022-0016
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited