Police continue war on synth-drugs

Police continue the war on synthetic drugs with five prosecutions in the Western Bay. Photo / File

Police have launched five prosecutions for the illegal sale of synthetic cannabis in the Western Bay of Plenty since the laws changed last year.

Information obtained by the Bay of Plenty Times under the Official Information Act showed there had been five prosecutions with one case still going through court.

Nationally there had been 157 prosecutions, with 61 cases progressing through the courts.

However, the number of active investigations was classed as operationally sensitive and was not provided by police.

Tommy Wilson, of Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services in Greerton, said the synthetic cannabis problem had shifted underground as soon as the new legislation came into force last year.

Mr Wilson could not say how many patients he saw a week but there had been no drop off since the laws had changed.

Western Bay of Plenty Area Prevention Manager Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair

"People who are addicted to pyscho[active] substances just don't stop being addicted because they are not for sale in a shop front, they just source it elsewhere.

"The addiction doesn't go away nor do the people who are addicted to it."

Western Bay of Plenty Area Prevention Manager Inspector Karl Wright-St Clair said the Bay of Plenty Police were continuing to support the Ministry of Health by closely monitoring the situation and taking action as required.

"Prevention is the key and the focus of the various agencies involved is to ensure that the products remain off the shelf, and those individuals suffering the effects receive the help and support that they need."

Mr Wright-St Clair said where enforcement opportunities arose police would take action.

Dr Derek Sage, Clinical Director, Tauranga Hospital's Emergency Department said with the introduction of the new synthetic cannabis laws they stopped collecting the numbers of people presenting at the department with the effects of synthetic cannabis use.

"Anecdotally, since the law change we have seen very few people coming into Tauranga's ED showing the effects of using synthetic cannabis," he said.

Dave Gilbert, 2nd Avenue Health Centre manager, said the centre had not seen any cases of people abusing synthetic cannabis since the law change.