WELLINGTON, New Zealand – September 2019: A two-year research project tracking the impact of synthetic cannabinoids in New Zealand found a new range of new psychoactive substances in the local drug market and distinct regional differences in the substances used, especially amongst drugs linked to fatalities.

The Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) project, beginning from July 2017, found that over 80% of fatalities related to synthetic cannabinoids in New Zealand were linked to AMB-FUBINACA and the substance was detected in majority of such fatalities in the northern region of New Zealand. Conversely, fatalities related to synthetic cannabinoids in the central and southern regions of New Zealand were spread amongst a range of difference substances.

Figure 1: Map depicting the breakdown in fatalities linked to synthetic cannabinoids in the northern, central and southern regions of New Zealand

Source: The Institute of Environmental Science and Research, 2019.

AMB-FUBINACA is internationally controlled in Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971. Till date, a total of 271 unique synthetic cannabinoids are reported and listed in UNODC Early Warning Advisory (EWA) on NPS.

For more information, please see:

ESR, 2019. New research tracks the impact of cannabinoids. Wellington, New Zealand.

UNODC, 2019. Current NPS Threats - Volume 1. Vienna, Austria.