Party pill study aborted over 'severe adverse events'

[~lostgurl~]

Party pill study aborted over 'severe adverse events'

NZ Herald
Sunday January 21, 2007
By Jonathan Marshall
party pills_230.jpg

A Government-funded study into the effects of BZP had to be aborted because of the toll it was taking on participants in the trial.

The subsequent report, leaked to the Herald on Sunday, says BZP - the main ingredient in party pills - has severe negative effects, especially if it's taken with alcohol. After consulting the National Ethics Committee, scientists ended the trial because participants began to suffer nausea, dizziness and hallucinations.

The confidential report, commissioned by the Ministry of Health and due to be released publicly within a few months, explains the dangers of the legal highs which have been sold, with few restrictions, in shops around New Zealand for seven years.

In the draft report the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand says that "the consumption of party pills containing BZP either alone or in combination with alcohol in the recommended doses carries the risk of severe adverse effects". Party pills affect sleep and cardiovascular function in a similar way to methamphetamine, or P, the report claims. One of the authors, Professor Richard Beasley, suggests the report has "personal, community, public health and regulatory implications".

The 34-page study says that 43 per cent of the 35 people who participated - mainly males - suffered "severe adverse events" after being given a mixture of alcohol and BZP. More than 80 per cent reported suffering a dry mouth, nose and throat when using BZP. About 35 per cent said that they vomited, experienced vision problems, felt dizzy, had difficulty passing urine, were confused and became agitated. Thirty-two per cent said their libido took a knock.

However, the report also concludes that driver performance improves among those high on the drug.

A party pill industry representative says the report reeks of bad science and he is concerned the Government will use it to decide if the $30 million industry should be closed.

Matt Bowden, chairman of Social Tonics Association of New Zealand - representing 70 per cent of Kiwi party pill companies - says the BZP doses given in the study were higher than those users normally consumed. "When thousands of people are taking these pills, we never see 43 per cent of them suffering adverse effects."

Party pills have become one of the most popular recreational drugs in New Zealand, with retailers claiming to have sold 26 million. There have been no confirmed deaths linked directly with BZP products, banned in Australia, Denmark and the US.

Bowden says he is concerned the report has not been made public because the authors are waiting for it to be published in a medical journal. "How can the Government consider something that hasn't even been reviewed by the medical profession?"

The minister responsible for drug policy, Jim Anderton, says he is confident the research - one of four studies - is a fair reflection of the situation, and says it is not a problem that only two brands of BZP, Jet and Bliss, were used for the study. "It is not as though you have to have evidence that every single packet of something is dangerous." He concedes that the findings differ from other local research, such as a University of Auckland study which did not recommend stricter regulations.

A recommendation on the fate of party pills will be made to Cabinet in May, after a consultation process. Health Ministry officials are preparing a requested copy of the report for the United Nations. Almost half the Government's 2006 drug advisory committee research budget was spent on BZP.

A Canterbury man told police his sexual urges - which he blamed on party pills - led him to sexually attack another man in December. Johnathan Smallbon, 30, pleaded guilty in the Christchurch District Court to kidnapping for sex, threatening to kill, assaulting while armed with a knife, and two counts of sexually violating his victim.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/...ectid=10420158

[sci]

Nice info :P ,, SWIMS sexual urges on BZP diminshes ,, sexualy assault would be the last thing on SWIMS mind :P .. SWIM takes it they actually allowed them to drive on BZP .. surely that cant be right !

[Nagognog2]

In a few months we'll probably hear they didn't actually use BZP in the tests - it was really methamphetamine! Kidding. But I do see these test results being refuted. But it should be interesting to watch and see who steps up to do so.

[Mona Lisa]

It sounds like the test results was deliberately skewed.

[Nature Boy]

To be honest, I wouldn't be very surprised if BZP was quite unhealthy and was banned worldwide. SWIM wouldn't miss it personally but it would be a shame for people who enjoy it.

[darawk]

Note that they said that in all cases it was combined with alcohol.

The 34-page study says that 43 per cent of the 35 people who participated - mainly males - suffered "severe adverse events" after being given a mixture of alcohol and BZP. More than 80 per cent reported suffering a dry mouth, nose and throat when using BZP. About 35 per cent said that they vomited, experienced vision problems, felt dizzy, had difficulty passing urine, were confused and became agitated. Thirty-two per cent said their libido took a knock.

Vomiting, dizziness, and vision problems, confusion, and agitation are all adverse effects that we know are caused by alcohol. Difficulty passing urine, dry nose/mouth/throat...do not seem too severe to me.

[Alfa]

It all doesn't seem to severe to me. And 35% seems rather low if you compare how many members of the forum report adverse effects.

Former reports concluded that the health risks of party pills where limited because of the adverse effects resulting from higher doses. People learn to stay clear of higher doses, because it immediately results in getting sick. So now they have done a study by giving subjects a high dose of BZP. Sounds like a set up to me.

[Riconoen {UGC}]

Wasn't BZP used as a bovine growth hormone before people used it recreationally? well since bzp is already illegal here in the states swim is not concerned with this study, though swim has tried it a few times and liked it.

[Thirdedge]

Originally Posted by Alfa

Sounds like a set up to me.

Definetly a set up. Remember when the States started putting pressure on Holland to get tough on drugs after they realised thats where most of the US MDMA was coming from? Well by the sounds of it NZ have been warned they are looking like a "drug haven" and its time to clean up.

[snapper]

SWIM did not like it after a while. Destroyed SWIMs libido, triggered headaches, and had a very dirty sort of effect. SWIM felt that overall it was not a friendly drug. However, SWIM did use quite a bit over the years with little in the way of problems after using. SWIM also had some weird interactions with it and alcohol and 1,4 bdo. SWIM does not really miss it either and regrets that this would impact those who like it, but for SWIM it is about as pleasant as ephedrine.

[Bajeda]

Swim doesn't like BZP. He has gotten many side effects from it and some of the more irritating ones only seem to disappear when he drinks. Actually, he doesn't like the experience at all whatsoever unless he drinks so he gets a strong urge to drink while on party pills. That experience is somewhat enjoyable until the next day when swim feels like shit. Taking larger amounts (which many people do) gives you some of the worst hangeovers ever the next day where you feel dead to the world.

Swim doesn't like the substance, and other research he has seen seems to show that it isn't the greatest for you. He'd rather it not be made illegal but rather prohibition ends so people will go back to using other stuff and forget about this.

[Alfa]

Same story as above:

Sex attacker blames party pills

NZPA | Wednesday, 17 January 2007

A 30-year-old has blamed party pills for an all-night sex attack on a younger man.

Johnathan Andrew Smallbon told police: "I have been trying to control my urges but after I took three BZPs I was unable to control myself."
BZPs are benzyl piperazine pills, a popular type of party pill said to induce feelings of euphoria, energy and heightened senses. A government study has also shown they can cause hallucinations.
Smallbon, who is unemployed, has serious previous convictions and no sentencing date has been set after his five guilty pleas in Christchurch District Court today.
Instead, a psychiatric report has been ordered and he has been remanded to January 31 so that the Crown can consider seeking to have the case sentenced in the High Court where an open-ended term of preventive detention can be considered.
He has been in custody since his arrest two weeks ago, and Judge Robert Wolff ordered that he remain in custody pending sentencing on charges of kidnapping for sex, threatening to kill, assaulting while armed with a knife, and two counts of sexually violating the 24-year-old victim.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Mark Berryman said the victim had suffered "huge emotional harm" as a result of the attack on the night of December 30 to 31.
He told how Smallbon asked the victim to help move a fridge but once he was in his home, Smallbon placed him in a stranglehold with a knife against his throat. He demanded money.
He then made the victim lie face down on his bed with the knife to his face.
"Don't say anything, because this is your life," Smallbon told him. He tied his hands behind him with telephone cord and took off his shoes and jeans, and cut off his underwear using the knife.
He then used one of the victim's socks as a gag, before violating him at intervals through the night.
In the morning he knelt astride the victim's back, put his arm around his throat and cut off his oxygen, telling him: "Don't tell anyone or this will happen to you."
The victim could not breathe and began gasping and going into spasm.
Later in the morning he tormented the victim with the knife, using a stabbing motion or waving it over the victim's body.
Before lunch Smallbon untied him, allowed him to get dressed, and tried to befriend him.
"The defendant cried and apologised for what he had done. He blamed party pills," said Mr Berryman.
When interviewed, Smallbon admitted detaining, violating and assaulting the victim.
The victim was left with bruising and burst blood vessels in his eyes as a result of the prolonged attack.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/timaruh...931595a11.html

[Zaprenz]

^ This is a good example of one of the reasons illegal drugs are never going to be legalised/decriminalised/regulated.

Piperazines might suck and it could well have been BZP that made this guy flip but the point is we will never know. Seeing as companies can't legally sponsor official large scale double blind placebo controlled trials for recreational drugs people are going to take these crap compounds and claim they are a harm minimisation strategy.

Evil happens when good men fail to act.

Die hard Drug laws happen when intelligent people follow emotional rather than logical concepts. Sound ok? couldn't think of a better way of wording it...

[01485202]

Originally Posted by sci

Nice info :P ,, SWIMS sexual urges on BZP diminshes ,, sexualy assault would be the last thing on SWIMS mind :P .. SWIM takes it they actually allowed them to drive on BZP .. surely that cant be right !

SWIM finds sexual urges dimiish greatly while high, and increase rapidly after coming down. More so than with mdma

Originally Posted by darawk

Vomiting, dizziness, and vision problems, confusion, and agitation are all adverse effects that we know are caused by alcohol. Difficulty passing urine, dry nose/mouth/throat...do not seem too severe to me.

all these effects are due to either excess or to drinking too much.
Or possibly not taking tmfpp with the bzp. that seems to be key in swim's experience (70/80 times)

brilliant drug to take in small amounts and not get mashed