Skip to content

Trends in toxicological findings and drug seizures of MDMA in New Zealand from 2010 to 2022

Thomas Sheehan, Hilary J Hamnett, Sarah G. G. Russell, Diana Kappatos, Helen Poulsen

Journal of Forensic Sciences February 12, 2026 DOI: 10.1111/1556-4029.70284 (opens in new tab)

Relevant Not relevant

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Retrospective analysis of toxicology and seizure data Peer reviewed
Sample size 324
Population MDMA-positive coronial cases and driving-under-the-influence cases in New Zealand (2010–2022), plus MDMA drug seizures
Duration 2010-2022
Topics Cannabis MDMA
Keywords Forensic toxicology Poison control Demographics Population Pharmacology Injury prevention Emergency medicine Psychoactive drug
Key points MDMA was detected in 131 coronial cases and 193 driving cases; most cases involved co-use of other drugs, especially cannabis and alcohol.

Abstract

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) or "ecstasy," is a commonly used drug worldwide, including in New Zealand, where 4.8% of the population aged 15 years or over reported using it in a 2023/2024 survey. This study provides additional insights on MDMA prevalence data in New Zealand by reporting toxicology data from Coronial and driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) cases positive for MDMA between 2010 and 2022. Presented alongside are data from MDMA drug seizures (tablets, powders/crystals, and capsules) submitted by NZ Police or Customs during the same period. Of the 131 MDMA-positive Coronial cases, 73 were quantified in peripheral postmortem blood (mean: 0.88 mg/L, range: 0.01-9.30 mg/L). Of the 193 DUID cases positive for MDMA, 186 were quantified in blood (mean: 0.23 mg/L, range: 0.01-7.30 mg/L). MDA was also quantified in peripheral blood in 33 Coronial cases (mean: 0.06 mg/L, range: 0.01-0.20 mg/L) and 79 DUID cases (mean: 0.03 mg/L, range: 0.01-0.21 mg/L). In both types of MDMA-positive cases, 85% or more were positive for other drugs and/or alcohol, with the most commonly co-used substances being cannabis and alcohol. The demographics of MDMA users were comparable to those reported in previous studies. The prevalence of MDMA in drivers (1.8%) is similar to that reported in previous studies. There were 138 drug seizures with an average purity of 71% (range: 17-101%), with capsules showing the highest overall purity. We envisage the data in this paper being used by forensic toxicologists, law enforcement and drug policy makers.

Comparable studies

Other observational and cohort studies on MDMA, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
Subjective Reports of the Effects of MDMA in a Clinical Setting Individuals who took MDMA in a clinical setting 1986 Observational study
Memory impairment in abstinent MDMA ("Ecstasy") users Abstinent MDMA users 1998 Observational cohort
Impaired cognitive performance in drug free users of recreational ecstasy (MDMA) Otherwise healthy young people 2000 Observational
The Psychological and Physiological Effects of MDMA on Normal Volunteers Older, more educated, drug-experienced individuals 1986 Observational cohort
Cognitive performance in recreational users of MDMA or 'ecstasy': evidence for memory deficits Young people who were regular or novice MDMA users, or non-users 1998 Observational cohort n = 30

Citations in the library

Cites 7

and 2 more in the library

Related reading

Explore topics

Cannabis MDMA