A recent United Nations report reveals a surprising and concerning trend: Australians and New Zealanders are consuming more cocaine per person than any other population globally. This finding highlights the scale of a growing drug problem in the region, fueled by economic factors and exploited by sophisticated criminal networks operating across borders. The report paints a stark picture of the intensifying worldwide struggle against illicit substances, with cocaine identified as the fastest-growing drug market.
Understanding this complex issue requires examining the data, the economic drivers, the human cost, and the broader regional impact. While countries in the Americas and Europe may have higher total numbers of users, the per capita consumption rate in australia and New zealand stands out significantly, posing unique challenges for public health and law enforcement.
The Stark Numbers Behind Per Capita Use
According to the detailed findings presented in the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)’s World Drug Report 2025, approximately 3% of individuals aged 15 to 64 in Australia and New Zealand reported using cocaine in the past year (based on 2023 data). This prevalence is nearly double the rate observed in the Americas and close to triple that of Europe, the next largest consuming regions. Despite this high per capita figure, wastewater analysis cited in the report suggests that many users in the region may consume the drug only occasionally, indicating a potentially wider user base rather than just a concentration of heavy users.
Globally, the report underscores a worrying surge in the illegal drug trade. Production volumes, seizure rates, and overall drug use all reached record highs in 2023. An estimated 316 million people worldwide used illicit drugs during the reporting period, making the battle against trafficking and addiction more critical than ever amidst a new era of global instability.
Why Australia and New Zealand Are Prime Targets
Several factors make Australia and New Zealand particularly attractive markets for transnational criminal organizations dealing in cocaine and other illicit drugs. The relative wealth of both nations means users are often willing and able to pay significantly higher prices for drugs compared to street values in other parts of the world. This high profitability creates a lucrative incentive for cartels and gangs.
Furthermore, Australia’s vast seaboard and New Zealand’s island geography, while offering natural barriers, also present challenges for border authorities attempting to intercept shipments. Criminal groups exploit these geographical features, alongside the high financial returns, making successful importation highly rewarding despite the risks. As an example of the scale of attempted trafficking, a record seizure by Australian Federal Police in December intercepted 2.34 tonnes of cocaine by sea, estimated to be worth A$760 million on the street and capable of facilitating 11.7 million individual deals.
Secondary keywords: drug trafficking, per capita consumption, illicit substances.
The Human Cost: Beyond the Statistics
The high demand and availability of drugs like cocaine in wealthy markets inevitably lead to devastating human consequences. While statistics paint a broad picture, individual stories highlight the destructive power of addiction and the illicit drug trade. For instance, the tragic case of an Australian man named Josh Winslet, who won $22 million in the New Zealand Lotto while living there in 2018, serves as a stark reminder. After moving back to Australia, his newfound wealth reportedly attracted negative influences, leading him into severe drug use, including cocaine and MDMA.
Despite having a trust fund managing his winnings, Winslet had sufficient access to funds to quit his job and finance a “hopeless” drug addiction. Court proceedings revealed other drug users treated him as a “free ride,” exacerbating his situation. A police raid on his Adelaide home in 2020, prompted by suspected drug manufacturing, uncovered cocaine, MDMA, and an unlicensed firearm, illustrating the descent into crime that often accompanies severe addiction. Winslet, who had battled challenging congenital conditions and bullying throughout his life, ultimately died in 2024 due to health complications attributed to excessive drug use, leaving behind a legacy tragically defined by his lottery win and subsequent addiction.
A Different Perspective: Kiwis Abroad and the Cocaine Scene
Interestingly, the experience of New Zealanders in other parts of the world sheds light on the unique context of cocaine use in their home country. In New Zealand, cocaine has historically been less common and significantly more expensive, partly due to geographic isolation and the prevalence of cheaper alternatives like methamphetamine (“P”), which has become a major domestic issue there. The NZ Drug Foundation reported that only 0.6% of New Zealanders had used cocaine in the past year, a stark contrast to the recent UNODC figure (though definitions/survey periods may differ, illustrating varying data points).
However, for many Kiwis who move to places like London, the situation changes dramatically. Cocaine is described as widespread, easily accessible, and relatively affordable compared to New Zealand prices (around £60 for a gram in London versus potentially $450 NZD for poor quality in NZ). Many young New Zealanders moving to London reportedly engage heavily with cocaine, viewing it as part of the “full London experience” or a social lubricant in an unfamiliar environment. While initially drawn to its accessibility and perceived social benefits, some users later reflect on the significant financial cost, severe comedowns, and ethical concerns surrounding the drug’s production and trade. This highlights how market dynamics and availability profoundly influence usage patterns, even among the same demographic.
The Global Network and Regional Impact
The high demand for drugs in Australia and New Zealand doesn’t just impact users and local communities; it has significant consequences for the broader region, particularly the Pacific Islands. The maritime corridor connecting Australia, Asia, and American markets has become a critical “drug highway” for organized crime syndicates. These groups increasingly use this route not only for transit but also to service a growing drug market within the Pacific Islands themselves.
The local drug market in the Pacific has expanded over the past decade, partly because facilitators assisting with transit are often paid in drugs, which they then sell locally. This fuels rising addiction rates among Pacific Islanders and fosters the emergence of local drug networks. External organized crime groups, including prolific networks from Australia and New Zealand (such as outlaw motorcycle gangs), have significantly expanded their operations offshore into the Pacific. Since 2016, there’s been a noticeable increase in members of these groups traveling to Pacific nations like the Cook Islands and Fiji, establishing and maintaining the drug trade in the region.
The report suggests the Pacific region is largely a “casualty” of external criminal greed driven by the profitable markets in Australia and New Zealand.
Addressing Challenges and Seeking Solutions
Combatting high drug use and the associated trafficking requires a multi-faceted approach. Law enforcement agencies face complex challenges, including disparities in capacity across different island nations and issues of “narco-corruption” that can compromise institutions. Disconnected regional and national agencies can hinder effective cross-border intelligence sharing and collaboration.
Furthermore, the deportation policies of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States have been identified as inadvertently exacerbating crime and addiction in Pacific nations. Returning convicted criminals, often without rehabilitation or adequate support networks in their birth countries, can lead them to reconnect with criminal contacts and establish “shadow economies” upon arrival. Experts suggest investing in holistic support, including drug rehabilitation, vocational training, and cultural integration initiatives before deportation, could offer long-term benefits and reduce crime.
Collaborative efforts are increasing, such as the AFP-supported Pacific Transnational Crime Network (PTCN), aimed at creating a more challenging environment for criminal activity. Offshore disruption and infiltrating organized crime networks are key strategic elements. However, the adaptable nature of criminal organizations exploiting global instability necessitates rapid, proactive, and flexible responses to the ongoing challenges posed by the illegal drug trade. Addressing the demand in wealthy nations like Australia and New Zealand remains crucial to impacting the supply chain and mitigating the devastating effects seen both domestically and throughout the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the key findings of the UN report regarding drug use in Australia and New Zealand?
The UNODC World Drug Report 2025 found that Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine consumption rate globally, with 3% of individuals aged 15-64 using the drug in 2023. This rate is nearly double that of the Americas and triple that of Europe. The report also noted record highs in global cocaine production, seizures, and overall use during the reporting period, identifying it as the world’s fastest-growing illegal drug market.
How does the high demand for cocaine in Australia and New Zealand affect the Pacific Islands?
The significant demand and high prices in Australia and New Zealand make them lucrative targets for transnational criminal organizations. These groups utilize the Pacific Islands as a transit hub or “drug highway.” Facilitators in the Pacific are often paid in drugs, which they sell locally, leading to rising addiction rates and the growth of local drug networks. Organized crime groups from Australia and New Zealand are actively expanding their operations into the Pacific, fueling the regional drug market.
Why is cocaine significantly more expensive in Australia and New Zealand compared to places like Europe?
The primary reasons for the high cost of cocaine in Australia and New Zealand are their relative wealth and geographical isolation. Users are willing to pay premium prices, making the market highly profitable for traffickers. Geographic isolation adds complexity and risk to importation, contributing to the inflated street value compared to regions closer to production or major transit points like Europe, where supply is more abundant and accessible.
Conclusion
The UNODC report serves as a critical alarm, highlighting Australia and New Zealand’s unenviable position as global leaders in per capita cocaine consumption. This reality is not merely a statistic; it reflects a complex interplay of economic factors, geography, sophisticated criminal enterprise, and significant human cost, stretching from individual tragedies to regional instability in the Pacific. Addressing this challenge requires not only vigilant law enforcement and border control but also tackling demand reduction, providing adequate support for addiction, and fostering international cooperation to disrupt the transnational networks that profit from this devastating trade. The battle against illegal drugs is intensifying, demanding comprehensive and adaptable strategies to protect communities both domestically and across the Pacific.
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