Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2008
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2008 Guardian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.guardian.co.uk/guardian/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/175
Author: Owen Bowcott

MOVE TO BAN STIMULANT BZP

BZP, a psychoactive stimulant promoted as a legal  alternative to 
ecstasy and amphetamines, is to be  banned in Britain.

The government's advisory committee on the misuse of  drugs will 
today begin the process of making it a  controlled substance, 
following a recommendation from  the European Union. It is likely to 
become a class C  drug before the end of the year.

BZP was once almost marketed as an antidepressant until  its 
similarity to amphetamines was noted. It has been  associated with 
vomiting, anxiety, insomnia, mood  swings and seizures. It is already 
a controlled drug in  eight EU countries.

The EU action is binding and requires all EU member  states to take 
legal action within a year.

There has been no direct evidence of BZP causing death,  although it 
has been linked to several fatalities in  the UK.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom