More and more drug users and dealers are taking to social media to buy illegal substances

Massey University research shows 29 percent of cannabis purchases and 17 percent of MDMA purchases are taking place online - with both these figures having risen since 2020.

Associate Professor Chris Wilkins says a lot of these transactions are happening amongst mutual friends who are already connected on social media apps such as Facebook messenger.

But he says people can also go into more encrypted apps like Wickr for self deleting messages and anonymous sign up options.