A glut of methamphetamine on the illicit drug market is prompting sellers to push "starter packs" for beginners and engage in a price war, according to just released research.

The tactics lead researchers to believe methamphetamine may be entering the closing phase of its epidemic cycle.

Ecstasy, meanwhile, is on the rise again.

"The impression is that the methamphetamine epidemic is further along than Ecstasy, but Ecstasy may stay around longer," said lead researcher Chris Wilkins.

There are also signs manufacturers are market-testing new designer drugs in a bid to discover the next big thing.

The revelations were gleaned from more than 180 regular drug-users spoken to in a Massey University study tracking illicit drug trends.
The project, due to be repeated for the next two years at least, is the first of its kind to be conducted in New Zealand, speaking to more drug-users than in previous studies.

"From using this method, talking to regular drug-users, we have more clearly identified the drug problem," said Dr Wilkins, of the university's Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation.

The study, funded by police, also found:

* Cannabis remains the cheapest and most easily available drug, with more than a third of participants saying they could buy it within 20 minutes. Harder drugs such as LSD or ecstasy took days or weeks to source.

* Legal dance party pills and nitrous oxide, far from being viewed as inferior to illicit substances, have become a staple of the drug scene, raising questions about the marketing of them as alternatives to hard drugs.

* Methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine are now viewed by most users as an extreme or great health risk, while Ecstasy and cannabis are viewed as lower risks.

* Three out of 10 methamphetamine users tried injecting the drug in the past six months.

"Several frequent users report the selling of small amounts of new drugs, such as methamphetamine, ketamine and Ecstasy in 'starter packs' to encourage people to try a drug," researchers found.

"They also reported the selling of drug cocktails made up of combinations of drugs such as methamphetamine, Ecstasy, ketamine and GHB."

Dr Wilkins said that suggested there was a glut of methamphetamine and there was a push to find new users as the "mature" end of the epidemic was reached.