Pubdate: Sat, 10 Nov 2007
Source: New Zealand Herald (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2007 New Zealand Herald
Contact: http://info.nzherald.co.nz/letters/
Website: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/300
Author: Patrick Gower

PARTY PILLS' CONTENTS 'VIRTUALLY UNTESTED'

Party pills on sale in Auckland are made with an experimental
substance virtually unknown to scientists worldwide.

The London Underground "Neuro Blast" pills were withdrawn from sale
this week after a Weekend Herald investigation revealed they contained
the potentially illegal substance diphenyl prolinol.

But further testing by the Institute of Environmental Science and
Research (ESR) has found the "Head Candy" pills from the same range -
still available in the city yesterday - also contain the substance.

The pills, marketed as "next generation" and "non-BZP", are designed
to side-step the Government's imminent ban on BZP.

The Weekend Herald sent both pills to the ESR for testing this
week.

It showed they contained diphenyl prolinol, which the ESR believes is
a potential analogue of the Class C5 drug pipradrol, a stimulant with
side-effects ranging from insomnia to psychosis and
convulsions.

If proven, this would make it illegal to possess, sell or
manufacture.

ESR forensic programmes manager Dr Keith Bedford said virtually
nothing was known of diphenyl prolinol.

"We have essentially come up with next to nothing on the effects or
hazards or risks associated with it.

"There has been virtually no testing that we can identify."

Police were first alerted to the potential illegality of the Neuro
Blast pills by the Ministry of Health in late September. They notified
London Underground but followed that up only last Friday with a visit
by officers.

The Head Candy pills had not been tested before this week, but police
yesterday said they would act on the findings.

London Underground owner Chris Chase said he believed all the pills
had been withdrawn from sale, and the Head Candy must have been
"existing stock" held by a shop.

He said the ESR finding that diphenyl prolinol was a controlled drug
analogue was debatable, and he was seeking a court hearing to decide.

The Government aims to ban BZP by Christmas, with a law change making
it a class-C controlled drug.

A legal loophole means party-pill makers can sell products without
having to prove their safety.

Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton is aware of the loophole, but
says it will not be addressed until after a Law Commission review of
the 30-year-old Misuse of Drugs Act scheduled for some time next year.

National Party health spokeswoman Jacqui Dean called for the loophole
to be closed immediately.
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MAP posted-by: Derek