Dozens treated for synthetic drugs
At least 51 people in the Wellington region have needed medical treatment this month after taking synthetic drugs.
One of those has died, and five are believed to have been admitted to intensive care, at a cost of about $5000 a day.
Many of those admitted to hospital were from Porirua, where police have been targeting the sale and supply of the drugs, which the Institute of Environmental Science and Research says can be 75 times stronger than cannabis.
The drugs are made by spraying chemical concoctions on to dried leaves, which are then smoked like cannabis.
‘‘People don’t know what concentration they’re taking, or how it’s been put together,’’ Detective Senior Sergeant Ian Martin said.
‘‘There’s been a lot of pushback from the community about the damage it’s doing, because they’re seeing people winding up in hospital.’’
Recent victims included a 36-year-old Hutt Valley man believed to have died after smoking the drugs, and three young Porirua children who fell comatose after accidentally ingesting them.
After synthetic drugs were banned from shops a few years ago, amateur manufacturers began using imported chemicals to create a dangerous and unregulated product that could be cheaper and stronger than cannabis.
Martin heads an operation that has been executing search warrants and making arrests, including that of a 34-year-old charged with possession of psychoactive substance for sale, and selling psychoactive substances, after police said they found 60 one-gram bags of it in his Porirua home.
‘‘It’s a problem the community have to deal with collectively. That involves loved ones seeking help and educating each other about the risks and harm it does.’’
Police have met with Porirua City Council and Regional Public Health, with support from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, which is involved in the testing and analysing the drugs, to seek ways to reduce the harm to communities.
Porirua Mayor Mike Tana said: ‘‘As a mayor, I find it sad and hard to hear it’s happening, but we have to do something about it and make a difference.
‘‘This one is totally horrible, and rampant and poisonous.
‘‘It’s something we’ll work on to get it out of our city’’.
Capital & Coast District Health Board said anecdotal evidence
WHAT THEY ARE
Previously known as synthetic cannabis, they are not a natural product, and are often produced in overseas laboratories.
There have been about 200 different synthetic cannabinoids identified across the globe. Some strains have been found to be 75 times stronger than the THC in cannabis.
Smoking the chemicals, which are sprayed on to dried leaves to resemble cannabis, is dangerous because there is no quality control over the ingredients or potency.
Smoking can cause seizures, nonstop vomiting, difficulty in waking, and a racing heart rate. showed the number of people attending emergency departments because of synthetic drugs was about the same as when the drugs were legal.
‘‘Use in the community remains high. However, aside from the recent spike we experienced, we generally see very few presentations to ED in relation to suspected synthetic drug use.’’
WHERE TO GET HELP
Alcohol drug helpline – call: 0800 787 797, text: adh to 234
Healthline – call: 0800 611 116 (24-hour health advice)
Local mental health crisis teams: go to In Crisis – Mental health