Police say they're on track to start testing Christchurch's wastewater for illicit substances later this year.
Testing will begin between October and November and will run for about a year in a bid to more accurately detect prevalence of illicit drug use.
Auckland will also be part of the study.
A range of drugs will be tested for, including methamphetamine, cannabis, MDMA, LSD, ketamine, cocaine, heroin, and a number of common psychoactive substances.
Police won't release which areas will be tested at this stage.
The emerging science, sewage or wastewater epidemiology, will be used to provide a snapshot of drug use in each city.
Similar research covering nearly 25 million people in 42 European cities has revealed cocaine use is heaviest in London, Antwerp, Amsterdam and Zurich.
Cocaine and ecstasy use spikes on weekends, while the use of methamphetamine and cannabis is more evenly distributed throughout the week.
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