Pubdate: Thu, 14 Dec 2006
Source: New Zealand Press Association (New Zealand Wire)
Copyright: 2006 New Zealand Press Association

NATS AND NZ FIRST CALL FOR PARTY PILL BAN

Two Political Parties Are Putting Pressure on the Government to Ban 
Party Pills.

National and New Zealand First want Associate Health Minister Jim 
Anderton to made a decision, and say he has had long enough to 
consider the situation.

Mr Anderton, who is in charge of the Government's drugs policy, said 
yesterday he needed more time to study expert advice before taking 
any steps to ban party pills.

The question is whether pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) 
should be banned.

At present they can be legally purchased by people over 18, but 
critics say pill doses are often far higher than recommended and lead 
to serious harm.

National's associate health spokeswoman, Jacqui Dean, said Mr 
Anderton was dragging his heels.

"The minister has already received expert information on the issue 
yet he refuses to act," she said.

"With the party season approaching, Mr Anderton's inaction can only 
mean trouble."

NZ First's health spokeswoman Barbara Stewart said her party had 
always believed the pills were dangerous and should be banned.

"Teenagers in this country already have more than enough access to 
mood altering substances," she said.

"They don't need party pills as well - especially since no reputable 
research has been carried out into their safety and the long-term 
effects are unknown."

Ms Stewart said emergency department doctors had reported patients 
with symptoms such as anxiety, panic attacks, elevated heart rates, 
hallucinations, headaches, vomiting and even convulsions from pills 
which were presumed safe because they were legally available.

Earlier this year a Ministry of Health survey found one in five New 
Zealanders had tried party pills.

At the time, emergency medicine specialist Paul Gee said there was 
"more than enough" evidence that a ban was needed.

Dr Gee said some people using the pills suffered serious problems 
including life-threatening seizures and even psychiatric illnesses.
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