Criticism of Bay of Plenty's Opioid Treatment Service - after a man died six weeks after being rapidly cut off from methadone

The man had taken the drug for decades, but wanted to reduce his dose - and was asked to attend regular appointments.

After 10 months, he was involuntarily discharged from the programme because of his lack of engagement - and his methadone cut off.

He died six weeks later with methadone in his system, reportedly toxic because of his low tolerance.

The Health and Disability Commissioner says Health NZ took him off the programme at a rapidly dangerous rate, without reasonable grounds.