International research has revealed severe reactions to the drug overseas \u2013 from nausea, vomiting, fatigue, joint pain and diarrhoea, to destroying white blood cells, leaving people vulnerable to life-threatening infections, and causing skin tissue death.<\/p>\n
New Zealand drug agency High Alert has issued a warning about a dangerous chemical found hidden in recreational drugs in NZ. Photo \/ 123RF<\/p>\n
High Alert supervisor Jem Vermeulen told the Herald it wasn\u2019t entirely unexpected to find levamisole circulating here, as it is prevalent in international drug markets.<\/p>\n
The drug has long been used to surreptitiously bulk up illicit cocaine in the US, increasing profits for dealers. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are always concerned about reports of levamisole, especially … misrepresented as other substances. It\u2019s likely we\u2019ll continue to see it appear in a wide range of substances<\/a> within New Zealand, which may lead to harm.\u201d<\/p>\n Vermeulen said levamisole had been detected in NZ samples of apparent cocaine, amphetamine, ketamine, methamphetamine, ephedrine and MDMA.<\/p>\n It had been used as a cutting agent \u2013 a substance added to a drug to increase its volume and in some cases addictiveness.<\/p>\n Testing by High Alert \u201cacross the whole country\u201d had also revealed some cases where substances purported to be Class A drugs were in fact straight levamisole.<\/p>\n High Alert first alerted the public to levamisole after detecting it in 2024 \u2013 and its presence in New Zealand has increased since then.<\/p>\n Vermeulen said it was always concerning when drugs turn out to not be the substances recreational users were sold.<\/p>\n \u201cThe risk of harm increases when someone doesn\u2019t know what they\u2019re taking \u2013 including the risk of overdose due to incorrect dosing or unintended drug interactions.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the last 12 months, and where a result was known, 5% of substances presented to drug checking clinics did not match what was presumed and 2% only partially matched.\u201d<\/p>\n High Alert is operated by Drug Information and Alerts Aotearoa New Zealand (DIANZ), which is governed by the Police National Drug Intelligence Bureau<\/a>.<\/p>\n Drug checking is free and legal in New Zealand \u2013 and in many cases government-funded.<\/p>\n Licensed drug checking providers include the charity Know Your Stuff NZ and the NZ Drug Foundation, which both receive government health funding.<\/p>\n A variety of home test kits for recreational drug users are also available for sale online.<\/p>\n The growing presence of levamisole comes as Class A drug use is surging in New Zealand<\/a>.<\/p>\n Data released by Police last year showed cocaine use had increased 43% in the third quarter of 2025 compared to the previous three months.<\/p>\n Methamphetamine use also doubled in 2024.<\/p>\nLevamisole was created as an anti-worming drug and is included in sheep and cattle drenches. photo \/ Michael Craig<\/p>\n
Meth users have purchased the Class A drug to find out it contains the dewormer. Photo \/ NZME<\/p>\n
Recent studies and testing have shown Class A drug use has surged in New Zealand. Photo \/ 123RF<\/p>\n