There are calls for a multi-agency approach to tackling the problem of methamphetamine.

The Salvation Army's latest State of the Nation report shows an unrelenting rise in the drug in New Zealand.

Meth-related offences made up 45 per cent of all drug convictions in the last year, compared to 18 per cent 10 years ago.

Former police officer and Drug Detection Agency COO Glenn Dobson told Larry Williams it's a complex issue.

"It needs a multi level, multi agency approach. It's not a one size fits all."

Dobson says of the tests that showed a person had taken drugs, 15 per cent showed meth use. 

"We've seen the prevalence of methamphetamine for a number of years now, and it year on year has been the second most popular drug that shows up in our drug screens."

He says marijuana is the most popular.