Syn City - New Zealand's Deadly Synthetic Drugs Epidemic

Web (Full Length Episode) – 2018

In 2013 the Psychoactive Substances Act became law in Aotearoa, effectively outlawing synthetic cannabinoids. This Vice documentary looks at how they continue to affect West Auckland — where people are still addicted, but the drugs are now on the black market. Tammara shares her experiences of trying to get clean, and dealing with treatment services. Her father rues the impact of synthetics on her life, and emergency responders add their views. Meanwhile ex user Trey talks about those he’s lost. In 2017 deaths linked to synthetic drug use showed a major spike in New Zealand.

People come in with a problem — they come in with chest pain, they come in with seizures, et cetera. We don't always know what that is, so we start working down the list of what could cause that. But now we've seen so many seizures from synthetic cannabinoids that that's one thing we always just consider.
– Dr Chip Gresham