Pubdate: Mon, 27 Dec 2004
Source: Marlborough Express (New Zealand)
Copyright: Independent Newspapers Limited 2004
Contact:  http://www.marlboroughexpress.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1139

HERBAL PILLS DANGEROUS, SAYS DOCTOR

Young people should stay away from herbal pills, warns Wairau
Hospital's emergency department doctor Andrew Morgan.

"Don't take them - they are not worth it."

He had not personally seen anyone admitted to Wairau Hospital after
taking the pills, but staff had told him that a few people had been
admitted over the past few weeks.

He said the effects of the drugs could last for some time and they
often made people feel very unwell.

"I would say stay away from them and they are certainly not without
their side effects."

He urged young people especially to be safe through the holiday period
and if they were going out to ensure there was a sober person to look
after them.

Blenheim man Grant Ingersoll said some doctors had warned the herbal
pills were an introduction into other drugs.

In Marlborough the herbal pills were advertised freely on the radio,
in newspapers and on street advertising signs, he said.

"The thing about these pills is that they are so in the face of
everyone but so many people in Marlborough just accept what is going
on."

Reports in other newspapers had shown that teenagers as young as 14
had been able to purchase the pills despite the legal age of purchase
being 18, Mr Ingersoll said.

"I'm speaking as a father and for road safety and although I admit
that I am not an expert on these things we have to be careful of what
our kids are taking - this is not a good situation.

"Kids sometimes do not know how to make good choices."

Mr Ingersoll said Blenheim was a good town and it would be a shame for
it to change.

Senior Constable Russell Smith of Blenheim police said he was not
aware of any problems stemming from the use of the pills in
Marlborough and was more accustomed to dealing with drunk teenagers.

However, that was not to say the herbal highs could not have adverse
effects and recently a group of about 10 people had to be taken to
hospital after taking herbal highs in Invercargill.

Boots 'n' All is one Blenheim store that sells the herbal highs.
Assistant manager Jaysen Baxter said it was "a good thing" when people
bought the product because it meant the individuals would not be
taking illegal drugs such as speed or ecstasy that weekend.

As the silly season approached his advice to people who had bought the
product was to stick to the rules on the label and they would have no
problems.

Mr Baxter said he would not sell capsules to young people without
identification.

"We enforce the R18 rule," he said.

A turf war in the world of legal drugs has erupted and health and
industry experts warn young party-goers are getting caught in the
crossfire - and ending up in hospital.

The Drug Foundation said competition between Christchurch
manufacturers had resulted in party pills or herbal highs being sold
by shops in unmarked clear plastic bags.

It was a dangerous practice, foundation executive director Ross Bell
said.

"People might not know what they are taking and might not know the
recommended dose," he said.

Mr Bell said there was "hysteria" from some Christchurch doctors who
said young people were ending up in hospital emergency departments
after becoming ill on the pills.

The predominant ingredient in party pills is benzylpiperazine (BZP)
which is derived from the pepper plant and legal in New Zealand.

It is estimated that five million party pills have been sold in New
Zealand since 2000.
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MAP posted-by: Derek