An ex-cop says we're not doing enough to educate kids on the dangers of synthetic drugs.

This follows a government ban on synthetic cannabis being blamed for driving the product onto the black market.

Methcon director Dale Kirk told Mike Hosking what New Zealand is doing isn't working.

"I believe there is a theory that out of 100 kids 10 of them won't try drugs no matter what, they are the good kids. The other 10 will try drugs, no matter what you do they are just going to and it's the other 80 percent you need to be focusing on."

Kirk says we need to give them the tools and knowledge to make better choices.

LISTEN ABOVE AS DALE KIRK SPEAKS WITH MIKE HOSKING