There are renewed warnings over the dangers of synthetic drugs as the Chief Coroner reveals they are responsible for up to 75 deaths.
An emergency department doctor says one puff can be fatal.
People being left paralysed by the so-called 'zombie drug' and shocking pictures dominated the headlines two years ago.
The shocking number of deaths caused by synthetic cannabis was released on Tuesday.
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On Tuesday, Coroner Debra Bell released her findings into his death, which show it was due to a mixture of methamphetamine, alcohol, cannabis and AMB-FUBINACA - a synthetic cannabinoid.
Bell notes that AMB-FUBINACA has been the cause of a number of deaths around New Zealand. And Judge Marshall says the death toll attributable to synthetic drugs toxicity could be as high as 75 people since June 1, 2017.
"There are 24 cases where the cause of death has been confirmed as synthetic cannabis toxicity and around 50 cases which provisionally appear to be attributable to synthetic cannabis toxicity; a total of 70-75 deaths since June 1, 2017," she said in a statement.
"There are also a number of deaths where while synthetic cannabis contributed to the death, synthetic cannabis toxicity was not the ultimate cause of death."
Bell says she agrees with previous advice given following synthetic drug coronial inquests.
A harm reduction approach should be developed to provide easy access to treatment for those seeking assistance, and synthetic drug users and their families should be informed of the dangers and the need to get help immediately if someone collapses.
