Pubdate: Thu, 09 Jun 2005
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2005 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349
Author: Joanna Davis and Louis Bleakley

REVIEW OF PARTY PILL USE

Christchurch Hospital is reviewing all patients treated in the past six
months suffering ill-effects from party pills after another teenager was
admitted having seizures and needing intensive care treatment.

The 16-year-old Ashburton teenager was admitted via the emergency department
two weeks ago after reacting badly to four pills. She had two seizures
before entering the hospital, then two in hospital and was admitted to
intensive care.

Her mother said she wanted her daughter's story to be told as a warning to
others thinking of experimenting with party pills. The family was still
coming to grips with what happened. "This is a good kid who made a terrible
mistake," she said.

The mother declined to be named because the family was well-known and she
did not want her daughter to suffer further repercussions.

Emergency medicine specialist Dr Paul Gee said the girl had "blood chemistry
that shouldn't really be compatible with a living person".

Gee was concerned someone would die from the effects of party pills, as was
nearly the case with this girl and an 18-year-old seen last month.
Toxicology results showed neither had taken any other drugs or alcohol, he
said.

Christchurch Hospital general manager of medical and surgical services
Shelly Park said she asked staff to look at "numbers and outcomes" of party
pills patients.

She said the intention was to "get a feel" for the pills' impact.

Gee said the emergency department had seen 12 people suffering
benzylpiperazine (BZP) after-effects in the past month, including six who
were admitted with seizures.

Gee said BZP, a legal and supposedly safe drug that mimics the effects of
speed, was banned in Australia, the United States and Europe.
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