HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Synthetic drug addiction or abuse
Te waranga, te whakamanioro rānei o te pūroi horihori
Synthetic drugs are made in a laboratory. They're designed to give similar effects to other chemicals that give highs.
Synthetic cannabinoids are made to be like cannabis and give similar effects.
Synthetic stimulants are similar to amphetamines. They try to give effects similar to drugs like methamphetamine (P) or cocaine.
The effect that these drugs give depends on the particular batch. It also depends on what drug they're based on, the amount of the drug taken and how pure the drug is. The drugs can come in different forms, including tablets or capsules, powder, crystal and liquid. They have many different brand names, or street names.
Important
Synthetic drugs can be very toxic as you cannot know what is gone into the drug or how pure it is. The drug's effects can also be very unpredictable and quite dangerous.
If you think you or someone else is having a bad reaction to synthetic drugs, call an ambulance on 111.
While it was once possible to buy them in shops, synthetic drugs are now illegal due to the harm they can cause. Many people were becoming very sick and even dying, after using these drugs.
Synthetic drugs are very addictive. They cause a lot of problems for users in New Zealand.
Like other addictive drugs, there are effective treatments for people who use synthetic drugs and would like to withdraw and become drug free. Your general practice team can help by referring you to specialist withdrawal services.
HealthInfo recommends the following videos
- New Zealand Drug Foundation – Video about synthetic psychoactive substances
This video is part of a series aimed at teenagers. The videos have everything a Kiwi teenager needs to know about common drugs in New Zealand. The videos can also help give adults confidence to start conversations about drugs with a young person.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- New Zealand Drug Foundation:
- Synthetic cannabinoids
Information about what synthetic cannabis feels like, how to be safer using it and when to get help.
- Synthetic cathinones
Information about what synthetic cathinone feels like, how to be safer using it, when to get help and how to cut down.
- Synthetic cannabinoids
- Community Alcohol and Drug Services Auckland – Synthetics
Information about synthetic drugs, including reducing harm.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed June 2023.
SourcesReview key: HIADG-47857
