Anger at mate’s synthetic pot death
The best friend of an Auckland teen who died from suspected synthetic cannabis use says the illegal drugs are too easy to buy.
West Auckland teen Trey Patterson said his best friend Devonte Pierce died after doing a ‘spot’ of synthetic cannabis earlier this month.
Police confirmed they were investigating the 17-year-old’s death and synthetic cannabis was believed to be a factor.
But only the coroner could say for sure, police said.
Patterson said he was shocked to hear of his friend’s death as he didn’t know he used the drugs.
Patterson used to use synthetic cannabis himself until he saw a video of what he looked like while high.
‘‘I was going crazy and spewing up,’’ Patterson said.
‘‘I thought I could handle it.
‘‘It is addictive, once you are on it, it’s hard to get off. It’s like cigarettes.’’
The 18-year-old said it was easier to buy than marijuana and the drugs were routinely offered for sale to people walking around the streets of west Auckland.
Pierce was one of eight people in Auckland who have died from the synthetic drugs.
The latest victim died at Middlemore Hospital this week.
Synthetic cannabis could be many different chemicals and was much stronger than organic cannabis.