Nouvelle Zélande : de nouveAux moyens pour la RDR

A Coronial Services spokesperson said there had been 45 to 50 cases nationally since June 1 2017 which provisionally appear to be attributable to synthetic cannabis toxicity.

This is an upgrade to what had previously been reported as up to 45 deaths, in this time period.

Health Minister David Clark said any death as a result of drug use was a tragedy.

“The Government is taking the synthetic drugs issue very seriously – these drugs are killing people.”

Health, Police, Customs and Corrections were working together on the issue, while Government – led by Clark – looked at the question of reclassification, Clark said.

A decision from Cabinet is expected in the coming weeks, he said.

“It’s important to acknowledge that there is no silver bullet. We need to treat drugs, including synthetics, as a health issue.

“Our focus is harm reduction and reducing the supply of synthetics, rather than simply criminalising people using these drugs.”

Clark said the Government was working with service providers, and focusing on community-based initiatives, adding that Budget 2018 included a further $200 million (over four years) for DHBs to spend on mental health and addiction.

https://www.newsroom.co.nz/2018/11/11/3 … synthetics