A coroner has ruled synthetic cannabinoids contributed to the death of a man in Christchurch in 2018.
Photo: RNZ / Luke McPake
Mark Anthony Norman, 58, lost consciousness in his friend's car and was taken to the emergency department at Christchurch Hospital, but attempts to revive him weren't successful.
Coroner Marcus Elliot said Norman had pre-existing health conditions, but died in the context of the current use of a synthetic cannabinoid.
Norman had been engaged with Psychiatric Services since 1992, and in June 2016 was transferred to the Seager Clinic - an inpatient rehabilitation unit for people with mental health issues.
He was a resident of the clinic at the time of his death and subject to a Community Treatment Order.
Norman was under the care of psychiatrist Dr Andrew Collie, who last saw him on 23 May 2018.
At the time Collie noted that Norman was at risk of an accidental death due to drug overdose as he had previously taken any street drugs he could find, the coroner said.
The coroner said the death was accidentally self-inflicted.
"Mr Norman's death illustrates once again the dangers associated with the use of synthetic cannabinoids."
