17 Feb 2022

Dozens of deaths a year from preventable overdoses : Drug Foundation

From Nine To Noon, 9:05 am on 17 February 2022
Tiltshift effect of prescription bottle for Oxycodone tablets and pills on wooden table for opioid epidemic illustration

Photo: 123RF/Steve Heap 2016

A new report finds dozens of people die each year from preventable drug overdoses, and New Zealand drug laws block the use of new harm reduction measures succeeding overseas.

 The Drug Foundation's 2022 State of the Nation Report finds opioid overdoses kill around 46 people each year, while synthetic cannabinoids have contributed to at least 51 deaths between 2016 and 2020. The report also finds drug related deaths for Maori are three times the rate for non-Maori.

The Drug Foundation says that while changes to drug laws in 2019 have seen a 13 per cent reduction in convictions for low-level drug offences, the results have been far less than hoped.

Kathryn speaks with Executive Director of the Drug Foundation, Sarah Helm.