Joshua Benjamin died in 2021, after having an "unusually severe reaction" to LSD. File photo. Photo: 123RF
A coroner is warning the public to have any drugs tested following the death of a young Auckland man who died from "complications" of LSD-use.
Joshua Benjamin, 20, died in November 2021, after having an "unusually severe reaction" to the drug, coroner Alison Mills has found.
Mills said this could happen with the mixing of other psychoactive drugs and while it was not found in his system, it was "possible" he had a novel synthetic drug in his system that could not be tested for.
The findings said Benjamin had taken four tabs of LSD while out with his friends one night, and began struggling to speak. His friends thought he was having a bad trip and took him home.
He was found in an "agitated state" by his parents and was sweating heavily - an ambulance was called after he had what looked like a seizure and became unconscious.
Benjamin was recorded as having a temperature of 41 degrees celsius, a normal body temperature is about 37 degrees celsius.
He was taken to North Shore Hospital, but died after going into cardiac arrest for a second time.
North Shore Hospital. Photo: rafaelbenari/123RF
This had been an "unusually severe reaction" to LSD, coroner Mills said, but that did not mean it was safe to consume the drug.
She noted anyone taking LSD should have their drugs tested beforehand.
A spokesperson for drug testing agency Know Your Stuff said it was "extremely unlikely" death was a direct cause of ingesting LSD.
"The effects appear more consistent with NBOMe or NBOH, which is sometimes sold as LSD.
"It's been seen in another death in New Zealand along with hospitalisations and deaths worldwide."
The spokesperson said ESR usually analysed for NBOH-type substances since it had been detected in New Zealand since 2016.
"To call this reaction unusually severe is even an understatement - if it were due to LSD and nothing else that would be the first time a death attributed directly to LSD consumption has ever been recorded.
"Most LSD deaths are due to secondary causes such as falls. Taking a large dose has much more of a psychological risk than a physical one such as paranoia and psychosis."
Drug checking organisation Know Your Stuff is one of four licensed providers in Aotearoa. Photo: Know Your Stuff
Staying safe with LSD
Know Your Stuff said if anyone was planning to take LSD they should get their drugs checked as there are several different drugs being misrepresented as LSD in the New Zealand market.
"These are high-risk substances that can cause psychosis, organ failure and death. They can also interact dangerously with alcohol and caffeine."
The spokesperson said LSD should not have a taste, while more harmful drugs were strongly bitter.
They warned anyone who was upset, exhausted or had poor mental health could have things made worse by taking LSD.
"Make sure you're with safe people in a comfortable space with no hazards around and have someone sober with you who can act as a trip sitter if things go wrong.
"Start low and go slow and don't redose for 90 minutes. Check for any dangerous interactions with other drugs or medications you may take."
The NZ Drug Foundation said if someone had taken LSD and had hypothermia, a high fever, psychosis, difficulty breathing, suicidal thoughts, violent actions, intense feelings of fear that they're dying or going insane or lose consciousness or have a seizure, 111 should be called straight away.
