The Methamphetamine in New Zealand Research Programme was established by Police in February 2020 in response to, and with the need to evidence the significant harm caused by methamphetamine. The research is supported and guided by a Steering Group with representatives from government agencies, non-government organisations (including the New Zealand Drug Foundation), universities and Iwi (Tūhoe) who have influence over, and/or a substantial interest in methamphetamine harm reduction. Tranche 3 of this programme uses Police data to examine the relationship between methamphetamine and other offending. The first part of this research compares the offending rates of a cohort of offenders with at least one recorded methamphetamine offence between 2010-2021, with a comparison cohort of offenders with no recorded methamphetamine offences.

• Exploring Differences between "Methamphetamine" and Other Offenders (PDF 736KB)
  The first part of this research compares the offending rates of a cohort of offenders with at least one recorded methamphetamine offence between 2010-2021, with a comparison cohort of offenders with no recorded methamphetamine offences.
   
• Patterns of Offending and Victimisation with a cohort of Methamphetamine Offenders - Tranche 3: Second Report (PDF 639KB)
  The second part of this tranche explores available police data to determine whether there are different patterns of offending, and involvement in non-crime incidents amongst individuals with methamphetamine offences
   
• Offending and Victimisation Trajectories with a Methamphetamine Offender cohort - Tranche 3: Third Report (PDF 897KB)
  The third part of this tranche builds upon the findings of the first two reports to explore the trajectory of offences, victimisations, and non-crime incidents, and behavioural patterns of individuals from the methamphetamine cohort born during the early 1990s. The report also examines whether particular offences were committed predominantly before or after each individuals’ first recorded methamphetamine offence. The insights from this analysis may contribute to current understanding of the need for nuanced intervention and prevention strategies

Christchurch Health and Development Study (University of Otago Christchurch) collaboration reports

A series of reports were completed by the University of Otago (Canterbury) using data from the Christchurch Health and Development Study (CHDS), in a collaboration with Police as a part of the Methamphetamine in New Zealand Research Programme. This collaboration was funded by the New Zealand Police Tactical and Evidence Fund. The CHDS followed a cohort of 1,265 individuals (635 male, 630 female) born in Christchurch in 1977 until 2017. At each assessment period, measures of family socio-economic status, family functioning, individual, personal, and behavioural factors, adolescent conduct problems, physical and mental health, life stressors, substance use, and engagement in criminal behaviour were collected.

• Christchurch Health and Development Study collaboration report 1 (PDF, 327KB)
  The first reported conducted analyses to determine whether the CHDS data set was suitable for examining outcomes for individuals who have used methamphetamine
   
• Christchurch Health and Development Study collaboration report 2 (PDF, 338KB)
  The second reported examined what family, individual, or social factors predicted casual or regular methamphetamine use between the ages of 16 and 40
   
• Christchurch Health and Development Study collaboration report 3 (PDF, 392KB)
  The third report examined whether there was a causal link between methamphetamine use (casual or regular), and criminal behaviour
   
• Christchurch Health and Development Study collaboration report 4 (PDF, 406KB)
  The fourth report examined the effects of methamphetamine use on a series of interpersonal, health, and economic outcomes for individuals at age 40, and
   
• Christchurch Health and Development Study collaboration report 5 (PDF, 303KB)
  The fifth report examined what factors predicted the transition from methamphetamine use to methamphetamine use disorder over the life course