Opinion: 'Zombie drug' video a warning to locals

If you were ever curious about trying synthetic drugs, the raw footage of two people nearly comatose, struggling to speak, mouths contorted in pained grimaces should be enough to put you off for a lifetime.

The video surfaced on social media this week and quickly went viral with its disturbing content.

The Auckland man who took the video says the woman slumped over her chair, drool down her chin, is his sister and he posted the video online because he is sick of seeing young people using drugs.

It was unclear what the pair had taken but the man said it was "basically bath salts which is synthetic stimulants but it could be spice which is synthetic marijuana".

I saw the uncensored video around 10pm the night it was posted after it had been shared by a number of my Rotorua Facebook friends.

The following 1m 30s I watched in horror as these two young people convulsed in their chairs, heads thrown back, making guttural moans as the man holding the camera repeatedly asked if they were okay.

I haven't watched the footage since but I can't get it out of my head. I feel a mix of repulsion and sympathy for the people who think any good can come from getting into that state.

The Rotorua Lakes Council last week put tough rules in place to control the sale of synthetic drugs in the city.

Many locals were quick to admonish the council for allowing the potential sale of the drugs in Rotorua instead of banning them completely.

While I believe many (if not all) councillors and the mayor would like to enforce a total ban, legally they couldn't do so. Doing the next best thing, they have made it as hard as possible for people to buy any synthetic drugs that come on the market.

It's terrifying to think people may be able to source the drugs legally and locally once more, but it gives me hope seeing how many people are staunchly against them.

Without getting into the complexities of addiction, the video, showing the ugly effects these chemicals have on a person's mind and body, coupled with the council's strict regulations should be enough for people to completely wipe their hands of the poison - we'd certainly be a better community for it.