We can't arrest our way out of the meth crisis

That's coming from Police following wastewater results which show smaller towns are being disproportionately affected by methamphetamine.

People in towns such as Kaitaia, Opotiki and Wairoa are consuming sometimes up to four times the national average.

Detective Inspector Blair Macdonald says Police are taking a strong prevention approach to those who use the drug.

He says arresting people with addiction issues isn't going to help people ... or the community.

Macdonald says police work with a range of agencies to help people kick their addictions.