Pubdate: Fri, 29 Jun 2007
Source: Nelson Mail, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2007 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.nelsonmail.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1069
Authors: Tom Hunt, and NZPA

FEARS OVER BAN ON BZP

Legislation that will turn party-pill users and dealers into 
criminals has been welcomed by health officials, but one Nelson 
supplier warned the move could force the drugs underground.

Under tough new legislation being drawn up by the Government and 
likely to be enacted by the end of the year, BZP - benzylpiperazine - 
and related party pills will be banned and classified as a class C1 
drug, the same as cannabis.

The new law allows a six-month amnesty for personal use from the time 
it comes into force, but suppliers, manufacturers and exporters of 
the pills have until the law passes to quit the trade or face 
penalties of up to eight years in jail.

Users caught with the drug will face up to three months' jail or a $500 fine.

Rules are also being drawn up forcing party-pill makers to prove 
their products are not harmful, to stop them rolling out new 
psychoactive substances to replace BZP.

Party-pill manufacturers and retailers, who are part of a $35 million 
industry, have joined with the New Zealand Drug Foundation to condemn 
the reclassification, saying it will drive users to harder drugs and 
could spark a crime wave.

Tim Kelly, the owner of Nelson party-pill supply shop Gizmos, said he 
was surprised by the announcement, which he believed would push the 
drug underground.

"I would stop selling as a retailer, but it doesn't mean other people 
would stop," Mr Kelly said.

Invisible Music Culture Emporium owner Ben Bowden said he was already 
resigned to the fact that the pills would be outlawed but suspected 
people would be able to come up with new pills that circumvented the law.

He said his Takaka-based store which makes, exports and sells party 
pills, would feel the pinch of the law change, but would survive on 
other products it sells.

Nelson Marlborough District Health Board addiction services regional 
manager Eileen Varley said she applauded the move because it put out 
a more consistent message on harmful drugs, although alcohol was 
still the worst.

"Will this drive it underground?

"I suspect it will and people will be more devious about how they sell them."

It could also push people into harder illegal drugs, she said.

Nelson GP Dave Dixon said: "If there's safety concerns then I would 
think it's quite appropriate for legislation that tightens it up."

Nelson police area commander Inspector Brian McGurk said the bill was 
not far enough along in the legislative process for him to comment 
but he would support "some sort of control" over party pills.

Massey University Centre for Social and Health Outcomes researcher 
Chris Wilkins, who did a major study on the effects of the drug, said 
the move was a "tough call" but probably the right decision.

"There has been no research on the long-term effects of BZP or the 
role BZP may play in psychological illness.

"Consequently, there was a strong case for stricter regulation of the 
use and sale of party pills and on balance a ban appears to be the 
low-risk decision.

"It will be interesting to see if a black market develops and the 
extent to which the authorities can control any criminal trade that develops."

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton, in charge of the National 
Drug Strategy, said doing nothing about party pills was not an option.

"Once you are told by clinical experts that what is being sold 
virtually at the corner dairy could kill people and you know that, 
how do you unknow it?

"If you don't take action, and a 14-year-old or a 16-year-old or an 
18-year-old dies in hospital from taking BZP, what do you think the 
headlines will be about government inaction?"

While other MPs worried about party pills being driven underground, 
the Greens were the only political party to speak out against the 
move, saying experience showed complete prohibition did nothing to 
make drugs safer or lessen overall drug use.

Last year, a national household survey of 2000 people aged 13 to 45 
found that one in five had tried party pills.

Nearly half said they used the pills so they would not have to use an 
illegal drug.

The survey also found that one in 100 users had visited a hospital 
emergency department in the previous year because of their party pill.

The family of a man who spent three weeks in a coma after taking 
party pills hailed the Government's decision.

Greymouth DJ Ben Rodden spent three weeks in a coma in Christchurch 
Hospital's intensive care unit in February after taking a party pill 
named Torque. Tests found BZP, caffeine and ecstasy in his system.

His mother Wendy said yesterday she was "rapt" BZP would be banned 
because her son's experience gave the lie to the idea legal highs were safe.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom