Dr Alex Krotulski, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education

The North American recreational drug supply is experiencing unprecedented volatility, driven by rapid emergence and proliferation of potent synthetic substances (e.g., fentanyl, nitazenes, medetomidine, synthetic cannabinoids). Novel drugs and newly encountered adulterants are creating an unpredictable market, necessitating real-time drug testing and toxicosurveillance for data-driven public health interventions to mitigate risks.

Dr Alex Krotulski is a Director at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education (CFSRE) in the United States and is the Program Manager for NPS Discovery, the CFSRE’s open access drug early warning system.

Dr Jared Brown, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Discover the latest global trends from UNODC Early Warning Advisory on NPS. How early warning systems can adapt for dynamic drug market monitoring and the crucial role of laboratories and networks. How this data can inform public health-focussed responses to emerging drug threats supporting supply, demand and harm reduction. 

Dr Jared Brown leads the global early warning portfolio at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). His background is as a clinician, researcher and manager across roles in early warning, pharmacy, toxicology, epidemiology and toxicovigilance for New South Wales Health in Australia.

Olivia Johnson, PHF Science

Aotearoa was the first country to legalise Drug Checking, but we are not the only ones offering this service. Organisations in the UK and Europe are providing testing, navigating their own legal systems, and complex drug landscapes. Following the opportunity to visit Drug Checking services, Olivia will share her findings. 

Olivia Johnson is a Senior Scientist in the Drug Chemistry team, analysing and reporting drug samples for a range of clients. She is also the Drug Checking Coordinator, supporting the work carried out by in-field providers.

Kylie Collins, National Drug Intelligence Bureau

This presentation explores how the National Drug Intelligence Bureau monitors the New Zealand drug environment and will outline current drug trends and an outlook to the future. 

Kylie Collins is an analyst in the National Drug Intelligence Bureau, a strategic workgroup that monitors the domestic and international drug environments. With a degree in Criminology, Kylie is passionate about reducing harm caused by drugs.

Dr Wendy Popplewell, PHF Science / Diana Kappatos, PHF Science

Overview of IDEAS, a new integrated system for collating forensic drug data in Aotearoa New Zealand to enable early detection of emerging substances, trend monitoring, and actionable intelligence for harm reduction.

Dr Wendy Popplewell spent 13 years as a forensic toxicologist before shifting to data integration and system design. She is committed to creating efficiencies that free scientists to focus on science innovation and advance harm reduction in Aotearoa.

Dr Paul James Quigley, Emergency Medicine Specialist

A review of patterns in Emergency Department presentations with recreational drug use.  This will examine the importance of collating this nationally to enable the early detection of dangerous novel agents. In addition, the need to continue toxico-surveillance to develop a harm register for a focused approach for both enforcement and harm minimisation.   

Dr Paul James Quigley has 25 years experience as an emergency medicine specialist with an interest in clinical toxicology, especially in the effects of novel psychoactive substances. He has published research on drink spiking and conducted a coronial review of synthetic cannabis deaths.

Assoc Professor Dan Furkert, University of Auckland / Professor Michelle Glass, University of Otago

Illicit novel psychoactive substance (NPS) are evolving faster than they can be tested for potential harm, to evade existing structure based legal regulation. This project explores the use of computer-based methods to rapidly estimate the potential harm from NPS targeting the cannabinoid and opioid receptors, to help prioritise health and regulatory responses. 

Associate Professor Dan Furkert leads a University of Auckland research group in chemistry and drug discovery and has a longstanding collaboration with internationally recognised pharmacologist Prof Michelle Glass around the mechanisms of drugs targeting the cannabinoid CB1 receptor.

Judge Lisa Tremewan, District Court Judge 

The AODT Court, established in 2012, better deals with offenders for whom an unresolved alcohol or other drug addiction is driving their offending. Founded on evidence-based best practice, the court takes a science-based approach which includes drug testing. A dramatic increase in methamphetamine use also demands effective responses. 

Judge Lisa Tremewan (BA/LLB (Hons)(1985), M Jur (Dist) (1986) was appointed as a District Court Judge in 2005.  In 2012 she jointly established New Zealand’s first adult Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court - Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua (the house which uplifts the spirit). In 2015, Judge Tremewan jointly received an ‘Equal Justice Award’ from the Law Faculty of the University of Auckland’s ‘Equal Justice Project’, and in 2017 a ‘Significant Contribution’ award from the Australasian Therapeutic Communities Association recognising her work in the AODT Court.

Dr Lucy Stiles, High Alert

This presentation explores how High Alert functions as New Zealand’s drug early warning system, outlining its information sources and risk assessment process. A real-world case study will illustrate the journey from initial detection through to the public notification stage. 

Dr Lucy Stiles is an analyst for High Alert, Aotearoa New Zealand’s Drug Early Warning system housed within the National Drug Intelligence Bureau. She has a background in neuropharmacology, with a PhD from the University of Otago.

Emily Hughes, Te Puna Whakaiti Pāmamae Kai Whakapiri, New Zealand Drug Foundation 

For years, people who use drugs have shared harm reduction strategies to stay safe. Building a health-focused ecosystem that prevents drug harm requires destigmatised engagement channels that enable community to inform science. This presentation showcases acute drug harm response co-ordination as a collaborative, community-driven model that centres lived experience. 

Emily Hughes is the Principal Science Advisor for the Drug Foundation, who has worked on the Foundation’s overdose and neurodiversity reports, and provides science expertise across a range of work such as drug checking, preventing and responding to acute drug harm incidents, and The Level. 

Casey Spearin, KnowYourStuffNZ 

With ten years of drug checking data in Aotearoa, the evidence for frontline harm reduction services is clear and growing. This session explores our evidence base and the challenges of measuring impact and drug-related harm within a criminalised system. 

Casey Spearin has been with KnowYourStuffNZ for over eight years, starting as a volunteer. She’s proud to help lead this flaxroots organisation providing drug checking and harm reduction education at hundreds of events nationwide. 

Jason George and Caty McKenzie, DISC Trust

This presentation examines trends in continuous drug checking service utilisation, looking at the proportion of clients presenting post-consumption and reported harms over time for commonly checked substances. We demonstrate how accessible, ongoing drug checking services effectively reduce risk-taking behaviours and explore drug checking’s ability to explain unexpected effects. 

Jason George is National Harm Reduction Lead at DISC Trust, overseeing peer-based drug checking and injecting drug use harm reduction initiatives. Caty McKenzie is the Practice Lead for drug checking at DISC Trust, managing the Dunedin site and overseeing data operations.

Andrew Chappell, PHF Science / Jock O’Keeffe, New Zealand Police

New Zealand has a world leading wastewater monitoring programme that is being used to inform community initiatives, resource allocation, and to measure the effectiveness of interventions. The data generated can also be used to help develop policy at local and national levels. 

Andrew Chappell (Science Leader, PHF Science) and Jock O'Keeffe (Manager Partnership & Harm Prevention, New Zealand Police) worked together from 2015 to bring the idea of developing Drugs in Wastewater capability to New Zealand. The programme not only generates data, but uses it to help develop responses to reduce harm in communities.

Dr Jai Whelan (Ngāi Te Rangi), Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, Ōtautahi 

This presentation will consist of a critical reflection about the different ways in which people could shift perspectives and work together to improve harm reduction and maximise community benefit. Topics of discussion will include scientific and legal progression, community communication, stigma, and lived experience. 

Dr Jai Whelan is a drug user and harm reduction advocate who has conducted research across varied drug types. His interests in the field include social and therapeutic drug use, public health, policy and education. 

Kay Robin and Jody Toroa, Iwi o te Tairawhiti

Tū Wairua, led by Rangiwaho Marae with researchers and health practitioners in Te Tairāwhiti, aims to develop an innovative rongoā - a decolonised, culturally grounded, psychedelic-assisted therapy working with taonga species to treat problematic methamphetamine use among whānau Māori and Communities. 

Both Kay Robin and Jody Toroa are Rangiwaho Marae Trustees, with Kay having extensive experience as a facilitator of Whanau Maori empowerment programs. Jody assists marae in redevelopment, conservation of taonga and Taiao revegetation and reintroduction of taonga species.

Panel discussion with:

• Zoe Rawlings, National Drug Intelligence Bureau
• Sarah Helm, NZ Drug Foundation
• Dr Mary Jane McCarthy, PHF Science
• Dr Alex Krotulski, Centre for Forensic Science Research and Education, USA
• Dr Jared Brown, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime