Pubdate: Sat, 25 Jun 2005
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 New Zealand Herald
Contact:  http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Rebecca Walsh
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education)

PARTY-GOERS GET DRUG-TAKING GUIDE

Are You Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Sad Or Sick

A safe partying guide launched this week says if the answer to any of the 
above is yes, then you should not use drugs or alcohol but instead stay 
home and relax.

The guide, called sorted2, has been published by Community Alcohol and Drug 
Services (Cads), based in Auckland. It aims to help people make informed 
choices and know the risks of the drugs they are taking.

First aid organisation St John supports the publication, saying anything 
that highlights the dangers of drugs and improves awareness is a positive move.

Cads regional manager Robert Steenhuisen said the service, which provides 
education and counselling for people with drug and alcohol problems, did 
not endorse the use of illegal substances but accepted people would take them.

Since the first booklet was published in 1999, the variety of substances 
available had changed, as had the way they were used, their chemical 
make-up and the known side-effects. Party pills had become particularly 
popular.

Mr Steenhuisen said the most common misconception about party pills was 
that they were "herbal highs", but the active ingredients, including 
benzylpiperazine (BZP), were synthetically produced.

Some were labelled as dietary supplements but "no normal, balanced diet" 
contained these chemicals, he said.

"While party pills cost less and don't involve the risk of legal 
consequences - there are risks in people believing that because something 
is legal it's safe to use."

Mr Steenhuisen said the title sorted referred to "getting your information 
about drugs organised before a night out". It suggested people plan ahead, 
eat a meal before going out, avoid alcohol, party with trusted friends, 
drink enough water and put money aside for a taxi home.

The guide also included detailed information about different types of 
drugs, from party pills and Ecstasy to magic mushrooms and cocaine.

Adam Johnston, regional events manager for St John Northern Region, 
supported any publication that increased public awareness about party drug 
dangers.

In the past two years its paramedics had noticed a significant increase in 
the number of people suffering life-threatening overdoses from herbal party 
pills. At one major gathering in Auckland, it had dealt with five critical 
overdoses from the pills.

Mr Johnston said St John attended about 2000 events each year in the 
Northern Region, from community gatherings to dance parties.

He said people would continue to use recreational drugs and any moves to 
try to ban them would drive them underground.

Auckland City Hospital intensive care specialist Dr Tony Smith said, in 
general, people were better off being educated.

"Educating people about drugs doesn't necessarily make them take more, or 
people who wouldn't otherwise take drugs, take drugs," he said.

* Copies of sorted2 are available from any Community and Drug Alcohol unit 
or using the link below.

Related Links . www.cads.org.nz
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom