Pubdate: Mon, 19 Feb 2007
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2007 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.press.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349

BZP PILLS FOUND TO HAVE ILLEGAL ELEMENTS

Party Pills Marketed As Being Legal Have Been Found With Illegal 
Drugs In Them, Police Say.

Police national crime manager Detective Superintendent Win van der 
Velde said recent tests found that some pills which contained BZP, 
which is currently legal, also contained drugs such as MDMA or 
ecstasy which is illegal.

"There is now scientific evidence that the line between illicit drugs 
and what are deemed as 'legal party pills' is becoming increasingly 
blurred," Mr van der Velde said.

He said other pills sold on the black market as ecstasy had also been 
found to contain other illegal substances.

Anyone buying these pills should realise they were taking risks with 
their health, he said.

"There have been recent cases where people have been known to take 
'party pills' without having any idea of the origins of the pill or 
ingredients, and, as a consequence, have suffered severe illness."

These included a man who died after allegedly taking "unknown pills" 
in Levin last week, and a Greymouth man on life support in 
Christchurch Hospital.

"Those responsible for distributing these types of drugs are breaking 
the law and could receive heavy penalties if caught and charged in 
court," Mr van der Velde said.

Police spokesman Jon Neilson said the BZP pills mentioned as having 
illegal elements weren't necessarily those sold over the counter as legitimate.

"We're just saying that these types of pills are out there and people 
should check what they're taking."

A December report from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs said 
BZP-based party pills should be put under the same C drug 
classification as cannabis.

However, the Social Tonics Association of New Zealand (STANZ) has 
said banning the pills will only push the market underground.

STANZ chairman Matt Bowden said only regulation could protect pill users.

"It is no surprise that MDMA pills, which are themselves illegal, 
should also contain other illicit substances."

Neither was it a surprise that they may also contain BZP, said Mr Bowden.

"This is exactly what happens in a black market. The customer has no 
come-back against the manufacturer and no guarantee that the product is clean."

Mr Bowden said people needed to accept there would always be a demand 
for mood-enhancing drugs.

The best response would be to seek to provide the safest products 
possible, including a requirement on manufacturers to list product 
ingredients on the packaging, through existing powers available under 
the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"Unlike methamphetamine and most other drugs, BZP is not addictive 
and does not promote violent or criminal behaviour," he said.

"It is also relatively safe to use provided people stick to the 
recommended dosage and do not mix with other drugs or alcohol, and 
provided good manufacturing standards are adhered to.
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