Tū Whakaruruhau: the study exploring meth experiences

In New Zealand, about 1% of the population uses methamphetamine each year. Some of those people will struggle with addiction – and it can be a difficult time. What is the most effective way to help someone with meth addiction? What approaches work best?

Tū Whakaruruhau is a longitudinal study in Aotearoa New Zealand aimed at answering those questions, and understanding the journeys of whaiora (those seeking wellness) who have used meth.  

This study seeks to:

• Understand peoples’ experiences and outcomes from addiction treatment
• Identify effective approaches, including what can help outside of formal treatment
• Find out more about challenges and barriers people face when accessing addiction services, including affordability and availability of services. 

We spoke with the study’s project lead, Sophia de Fossard. Originally from the UK, de Fossard has a personal connection to the project, having overcome heroin addiction as a young person. 

A personal connection

“What I think about [recovery] now compared to back then, in the UK, was that there were so many resources available to me,” explains de Fossard.
 
“I had five months of paid treatment... a lot of support when I left, and I was also able to move cities back in the ‘90s, when there wasn’t social media – I could go dark. Whereas today, it’s a very different landscape.” 
 
After her recovery, de Fossard moved to Australia in the late 90s, eventually relocating to New Zealand to become a social worker. In her role as Project Manager for this study, de Fossard says she feels lucky to have brought together her experience with addiction, social work and project management.

“I will never ever want to lose touch with being able to engage with some of our most vulnerable people in our societies and understand how precarious all our lives are - we don't really realize that,” says de Fossard.

How did the study come to be, and who’s involved?

Tū Whakaruruhau was inspired by the Methamphetamine Treatment Evaluation Study (MATES) in Australia, conducted in 2010. That study was based on a few hundred people living with meth addiction in Brisbane and Sydney. While the team acknowledge the contributions MATES made, they also note that it lacked engagement from Indigenous communities.

Tū Whakaruruhau team were deliberate about involving advisors who integrate Te Ao Māori perspectives, ensuring the study is culturally sensitive to Māori participants.

The investigation lead is David Newcomb, a psychiatric nurse turned alcohol and drug researcher. de Fossard says David’s expertise has been crucial in navigating the complexities of addiction treatment and research. Read more about the team on Tū Whakaruruhau’s website.

Cultural guidance was provided by whaea Pam Armstrong, Northland’s first Māori alcohol and drug practitioner, who sadly passed away in 2024. Armstrong organised a kaitiaki rōpu consisting of representatives from Ngāti Whātua, Ngātiwai, Tainui and Ngāpuhi. The rōpu helps guide the cultural safety of the study helping it to be culturally sensitive and relevant to Māori participants. 

The name Tū Whakaruruhau, meaning "to be a beacon of manaakitanga," reflects the study’s mission to walk alongside participants, shedding light on their experiences. 

What is the Tū Whakaruruhau study hoping to achieve?

The study aims to help build understanding of what works and what doesn't in addiction treatment, in ways that can benefit whaiora and the people that support them.

"Something that I personally fight for in research is trying to bridge that gap between community and research,” says de Fossard. 

“We know that research has been used to stigmatise and further marginalise populations in the past. I really want to give back to the alcohol & drug communities, whether it's communities affected by meth or those trying to help them, with some really good evidence to show what works and what doesn't.”

 - Sophia de Fossard, Tū Whakaruruhau project manager

de Fossard says that there are many things that can support addiction recovery, outside of formal treatment. The Tū Whakaruruhau study seeks to understand the effectiveness of these different approaches.

"We are all hoping that we'll get a better understanding of the many modalities that support people in their recovery and that one size does not fit all… For some, residential [support] is really important. There's definitely and always will be an important place for detox. But detox alone is not as effective as detox combined with ongoing support,” says de Fossard. 

Who can participate and how does the study work?

Researchers will interview people currently using methamphetamine and not in treatment, as well as those in treatment, to compare and contrast the experiences of these two groups. To be eligible for the study, parrticipants in the treatment group must have started treatment within the last two weeks. 

They aim to recruit 320 participants who are in treatment, and 80 people who are not in any formal treatment. People in the treatment group can either be looking to cut down their meth use or stop it completely. The Tū Whakaruruhau study aims to recruit around 50% Māori participants.  

Participants undergo four interviews over two years: baseline (within two weeks of starting treatment for the treatment group), 3 months, 12 months, and 24 months. These mainly involve quantitative (measurable) data.

Topics covered in the interviews include drug use patterns, mental health, treatment experiences, social and economic factors, and personal wellbeing. This includes looking into what prompts people to enter treatment, reasons for leaving, and completion rates. 

For 30 people going into treatment, there is an invitation to a second part of the study, comprised of three qualitative interviews: one at the start of treatment, one at six months and one at twelve months. This is a narrative part, where participants can tell their story.

The researchers provide kai for participants, and participants receive a $30 voucher for each interview. The team ensures that if participants become distressed during interviews, they have explicit permission to notify support people to provide immediate assistance. 

Participants can withdraw from the study at any time. 

Currently the researchers have just under a third of the participants they need for this study. Interested in taking part in the Tū Whakaruruhau study, or know someone who might be? Find more information on their website. 

Final words

de Fossard draws heavily on her own experiences with substances in the way she approaches this project.

“I understand from my own journey in addiction, that there are times where you can feel utterly hopeless and have no hope for your life,” she says. 

“What I say to whaiora about the study is, in those moments, know that your story is taonga, it's precious. [Being part of this study] may not directly help you in your journey, but it will go back to help those around you that you love and future generations. Because this is really important information.” 

Find out more or sign up for the Tū Whakaruruhau study on their website.

The Level has info on how you can be safer if you’re taking meth, assessing how your drug use is impacting you and finding support to change how you use.

Main image by Helena Lopes on Unsplash.