Pubdate: Mon, 05 Jun 2006
Source: Southland Times (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2006, Southland Times Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.southlandtimes.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1041
Author: Andrea Deuchrass

DRIVER ON PARTY PILLS FRUSTRATES POLICE

The officer who caught a 17-year-old man driving after he had taken 
40 party pills said police were often powerless to respond to people 
driving under the influence of the legal pills.

The 17-year-old was pulled over on Friday night when he was seen to 
be driving erratically. He told police he had taken 40 party pills.

Constable Sean Drader believed it was not the first case but police 
had no way of knowing for sure because they did not have the power to 
extract blood from those they thought were under the influence of 
drugs. A medical examination was ordered but a blood test could not 
be done because the man had not consumed alcohol, Mr Drader said.

The man is due to appear in court tomorrow on four charges: careless 
driving, driving under the influence, possession of a cannabis pipe 
and driving while disqualified.

The party-pill culture was huge but it was the public's 
responsibility to lobby government, he said.

"It's not up to the police to influence government. The public has to 
go to their local member and do something about it."

Young people took party pills and then drove because they thought it was legal.

"But if you're driving so poorly that you are all over the road, then 
it is illegal.

"No one has done any tests to say what the legal limit should be." 
The young man could have taken other drugs such as methamphetamine, 
cocaine or cannabis.

"It's completely impossible to measure it," Mr Drader said.

The man told him the pills contained benzylpiperazine (BZP).

"It's made out of cattle worming pills and one of the side-effects is 
an anti-depressant.

"We know that some shops have been selling double-strength pills and 
they are now selling at 100 percent."

The man told him he couldn't feel anything if he took fewer than four 
party pills.

"At $10 each, that's a lot of money for a 17-year-old to be spending.

"He also said he could get the stuff in powder form. That's pretty concerning."

A Lakes District Hospital spokesman said the hospital treated about 
two to three cases a week involving party pills. Side-effects 
included altered consciousness, anxiety or increased alertness, 
dehydration and difficulty in breathing.

Most cases also involved alcohol, making it difficult to determine 
the side-effects of the pills.

How much information patients were willing to divulge also had an 
impact, the spokesman said.

Herbal Heaven manager Brent Adamson said he doubted the man took 40 pills.

"I don't know how big he is but he must be a monster to be able to 
take 40 pills. Two is enough."

Police were deliberately trying to push the issue of party pills in 
order to get more funding from the Government.

"I hope that the police will do their due diligence and work out if 
it was party pills or something else," Mr Adamson said.

Anyone who sold pills to a person under 18 years from their shop 
faced instant dismissal, he said.
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