"A lot of wasted potential": Accidental drug overdoses causing three deaths a week - report

Opioids remain the biggest driver of overdose deaths, often with a cocktail of other substances. 

The latest NZ Drug Foundation report reveals the country's losing around three people a week to preventable overdose. 

It also shows a rise in hospitalisations from stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine. 

Foundation executive director Sarah Helm told Andrew Dickens that in 85% of fatalities, the person had more than one thing in their system. 

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