Party pill research doesn't justify prohibition

[Thirdedge]

Party pill research doesn't justify prohibition
Tuesday, 13 June 2006, 4:42 pm
Press Release: Green Party
13 June 2006

Party pill research doesn't justify prohibition


The findings of the first of four research projects into party pill use and its effects are being welcomed by the Green Party, with a note of caution that they should not be used to justify total prohibition.

The research, which shows that as many as one in five New Zealanders have tried BZP or party pills, was released by the Ministerial Committee on Drugs today. It also found that 60 per cent of those surveyed believed there should be tougher regulation of the sale of the pills.

"The Green Party also believes that the sale of party pills should be subject to strict regulation, but we would be very disappointed if this research were used in any attempt to justify total prohibition of BZP," Green Party Alcohol and Drugs Spokesperson Metiria Turei says.

"We have learnt from the past with the examples of alcohol and cannabis that prohibition simply does not work. As the research points out, the risks of BZP are still largely unknown. The best chance of dealing with them successfully as they emerge is to ensure that party pills are a legal substance which can be regulated, rather than prohibiting them and confining them to underground use where the risks cannot be taken into account.

"The fact that the rate of use is so high among New Zealanders highlights this, as prohibition would effectively criminalise one fifth of the population.

"The best tool we have against harm from drug use is information, so it is great to see this research being produced. I am looking forward to the results of the remaining three projects. I hope that all the findings are used to help develop sensible regulations around the use of BZP in New Zealand," Mrs Turei says.

Sourse: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0606/S00215.htm

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[Lunar Loops]

Also this from Scoop NZ (http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE0606/S00092.htm) :

University studies physical effects of party pills

Tuesday, 20 June 2006, 9:56 am
Press Release: University of Auckland University studies physical effects of party pills

Researchers at The University of Auckland’s School of Pharmacy have begun investigation into the effects that BZP and TFMPP have on the human body, the first in-depth controlled research into these chemicals and their effects.
Benzylpiperazine (BZP) and Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) are the main constituents of party pills. In the 1970s, BZP was used in two controlled studies, and there are no available controlled trials describing the effects that TFMPP has on people. No other controlled experiments have been published.
The new studies at The University of Auckland involve recruiting volunteers to perform simple tasks designed to assess their working memory and neurological function using a 128 lead EEG both before and after taking either BZP and/or TFMPP. The responses will be compared with those of the normal brain to identify those areas affected by the drugs.
Additional research is also being carried out to determine exactly how these drugs are metabolised by the liver and subsequently how long they stay in the body.
The use of BZP and TFMPP as recreational drugs is legal in many countries, including New Zealand. Conservative estimates from 2005 suggest that approximately 150,000 doses/month of Party Pills aka Legal Herbal Highs are sold within NZ from corner dairies, liquor shops and online. They contain either BZP and/or TFMPP (amphetamine-like substances) along with herbal stimulants such as guarana (caffeine) and black pepper. In 2004 the NZ Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs concluded that there was insufficient information available to classify either substance within the Misuse of Drugs Act. “The majority of the effects that BZP and TFMPP have on the human body are largely unknown” says Dr Bruce Russell, coordinator of the research. “The research we are undertaking will look closely at the pharmacological effects these drugs have on the brain and their metabolism to provide detailed information about exactly what effects they do have and how long they last. We are hoping that this research and further studies that we have planned, will allow people to make an informed decision about the use of BZP and TFMPP in the future.”

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