Meth-related mental health admissions spike in Waikato

Methamphetamine-related admissions to mental health services in Waikato have more than doubled in the past five years. Police, doctors and researchers report the region is awash with the drug and services are struggling to cope. The mental health inpatient care at Waikato DHB is in the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre, the same unit criticised by a coroner for deficiencies in the care of a young man who took his own life. Last year, Coroner Wallace Bain ruled the 2015 death of Nicky Stevens, who was 21, was a preventable suicide. But the DHB wrote to the family in January saying the DHB's insurer has raised a considerable number of procedural concerns about the coronial findings with the Solicitor-General.