The father of a young man who died while using synthetic drugs is calling for tougher penalties for suppliers and manufacturers.
Lewis Jones, whose son Calum died one year ago after using the drugs, still holds him close to his heart.
"He just said to me, 'Dad, I can't stop,'" Mr Jones recalled.
The 22-year-old was hooked on synthetic drugs as an escape from mental illness. He died at home after what would be his final hit.
Mr Jones' son is one of at least 46 people who are believed to have died from synthetic drugs in the past year.
Last month, the then-Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters said its use had to stop.
"Look, we're gonna put the best resources and the best multi-faceted team across a number of our portfolios on to the case," Mr Peters said.
However, at a press conference today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern did not appear any closer to offering a way forward, calling synthetic drugs "an ongoing problem with not very many obvious solutions".
Health Minister David Clark told 1 NEWS one option would be to re-classify the substances, bringing them under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which would give police wider powers to deal with its production and supply.
National's Simeon Brown says his bill, which is currently before a select committee, is "a solution to increase the penalties for those found guilty of supplying synthetic drugs."
"They can adopt it and we can get on and do it," Mr Brown said.
Mr Jones says he also supports stiffer penalties.
"We've been through the court process and I've seen the boy who supplied the lethal dose that killed him walk away with a six month ankle bracelet on," Mr Jones said.
The Government says it's expecting wide-ranging recommendations from its inquiry into mental health and addiction, which is due to report back at the end of October.
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