Drug Foundation - Party Pills

Drug Foundation urges moratorium and independent analysis of new party pills

Ross — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1300

Release date:

31 Mar 2008

Media release summary:

On the eve of the BZP party pill ban, the New Zealand Drug Foundation has called for a voluntary moratorium on sales of all new non-BZP party pills until an independent analysis has been carried out to determine their risk.

Media release:

From tomorrow, it will be illegal to manufacture and sell BZP-based party pills, and a six-month amnesty is in place for personal possession and use. It is expected that the party pill industry will introduce non-BZP products from this date. New BZP-free products are already being advertised online by some retailers.

However, the Drug Foundation warns there is no information about what is in the new products or their health effects, and that consumers’ health could be severely compromised. The foundation is calling for retailers to voluntarily withhold the new products from sale until an independent analysis is undertaken to determine exactly what is in them, and whether there are any health risks from the various ingredients.

“This is the same risky situation we had when BZP pills were first introduced. We don’t know what’s in them, we don’t know their effects and so we aren’t able to provide good health and safety advice to consumers. We cannot rely on the industry to provide unbiased information,” said Ross Bell, Drug Foundation Executive Director.

“These new products have zero regulations over them. This means they can be sold from anywhere, including the corner dairy, to anyone, including people under 18 years old. There is no requirement for the products to have health and safety labelling, so consumers won’t have a clue what’s in them or their possible health effects. Once more, the law is lagging behind what is happening in the marketplace.”

The Drug Foundation is asking the government’s independent Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs to review the new products and provide advice on how they should be regulated.

The Drug Foundation will recommend to the EACD that these products be classified as “Restricted Substances” under the Misuse of Drugs Act, which provides controls such as a sales restriction to people over 18 years and bans some advertising.

“While we’re in this state of regulatory limbo, we urge retailers to show some responsibility and postpone sales of the new pills until an independent review is complete and made available to the public.”

Drug Foundation cautions ‘careful’ party pill use and no stockpiling as Easter approaches

Ross — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1300

Release date:

19 Mar 2008

Media release summary:

The Drug Foundation is cautioning users on ‘careful’ use of party pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) as Easter approaches, and Parliament this week passed a Bill making BZP-based party pills illegal from 1 April.

Media release:

The Drug Foundation is cautioning users on ‘careful' use of party pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) as Easter approaches, and Parliament this week passed a Bill making BZP-based party pills illegal from 1 April.

Ross Bell, Executive Director of the Foundation said, "Easter is traditionally a time for enjoying the last days of summer, a time away from work where people go out more socially and imbibe greater quantities of alcohol and other drugs. This combination of factors makes the Easter period potentially a very risky one for users of party pills."

Following the announcement of the ban, some retailers have significantly reduced their prices for BZP pills to offload their stock before 1 April. Some retailers are selling at half-price.

"Given the drop in prices, users are likely to buy and use more party pills. Those retailers trying to beat the ban and make a quick buck are acting irresponsibly. They are doing so in the full knowledge that party pill users will buy more than they usually would, and use them in a risky way.

"At the same time, we advise caution to those who are planning to make the most of the final weeks of legal party pills. Don't take more than the recommended dose, sip water, look after yourself and look after your friends."

Ross Bell added, "The cheap pills make it tempting for people to ‘stockpile'. What they probably don't realise is that anyone possessing more than 5 grams or 100 pills is classified as a supplier and is not protected by the six-month amnesty for personal use. This makes them liable for prosecution under the Misuse of Drugs Act. By taking advantage of cheap pills, you could quite easily find yourself foul of the law and ignorance is no excuse in a court of law."

Misuse of Drugs (Classification of BZP) Amendment Bill (Submission)

Catherine — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +1300

This submission sets out what we believe can reasonably be concluded from current evidence about BZP and its harms, then analyses the potential impacts of the Bill. In developing this submission, we have consulted with a number of people and organisations within the alcohol and drug sector. We have also reviewed research findings on BZP. Our comments are influenced by the Drug Foundation’s guiding principles, including evidence based best practice and policy, and harm minimisation.

Party pill ban bill introduced

Ross — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 16:48:25 +1200

Release date:

22 Aug 2007

Media release summary:

Associate Minister of Health and Leader of the Progressive Party Jim Anderton has announced the introduction of the Misuse of Drugs (Classification of BZP) Amendment Bill to in the House today.

Media release:

Press release: Hon Jim Anderton, Associate Minister of Health
22 August 2007

Associate Minister of Health and Leader of the Progressive Party Jim Anderton has announced the introduction of the Misuse of Drugs (Classification of BZP) Amendment Bill to in the House today.

“I am pleased to announce that the Bill to ban BZP and related party pills has been given sufficient cross-party support to be introduced, progressed, and in force by Christmas,” Jim Anderton said.

"The Bill has a commencement date of 18 December 2007, which means, if it is passed without alteration by Parliament, BZP will be banned from that date. Therefore, anyone supplying, manufacturing and exporting these products will be liable to a penalty of up to a maximum of eight years imprisonment from 18 December 2007,” Jim Anderton said.

Those found in possession of a Class C1 drug are normally liable to a maximum of three months imprisonment and/or up to a $500 fine. “However, Cabinet was mindful that these products have been legally available for some years, so the Bill includes provision for an amnesty for possession of less than five grams for personal use. With a commencement date of 18 December 2007 the amnesty will be up on 17 June 2008," Jim Anderton said.

Stay updated on this issue, including with information on making a submission to the bill, by visiting our Get Active page.

Reclassification of bzp (Submission)

Ross — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 +1300

In 2004 Mr Anderton asked the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) to review recent New Zealand research on benzylpiperazine (BZP), the main ingredient in most party pills. The official EACD report was released by Mr Anderton on 20 December 2006. It recommended BZP be classified as C1 under the Misuse of Drugs Act alongside drugs such as cannabis. It is illegal to possess or sell Class C drugs.

National drug policy

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:47:16 +1300

The National Drug Policy (NDP) aims to improve the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders by encouraging the development of strategies and programmes which prevent and reduce drug-related harm.

The NDP is in line with World Health Organization and United Nations recommendations of a balanced approach to drug policy.

Progress under the NDP is reviewed twice yearly by the Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy (MCDP). Initiatives are progressed and monitored by a group of Government agencies that make up the Inter-Agency Committee on Drugs (IACD).

Health Select Committee report on Misuse of Drugs Act May 2005

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:01:10 +1300

Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill (No 3) (186-2) and Supplementary Order Paper 298 (23 May 2005)

The bill as introduced amends two main areas of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 (the principal Act) and the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act 1978 (the amendment Act). The bill allows presumption of supply matters to be amended by Order in Council, subject to an affirmative resolution procedure. It also amends the presumption of supply quantity for methamphetamine, and adds a Ministry of Justice official to the membership of the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs.

Inter-Agency Committee on Drugs (IACD)

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 09:01:05 +1300

A monitoring group of officials, the IACD ensures that policies and programmes developed by government agencies are consistent and mutually supportive. The IACD also makes recommendations to the MCDP on new policy initiatives.

Ministerial Committee on Drug Policy (MCDP)

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:58:33 +1300

Meeting at least twice a year, the MCDP is charged with reviewing progress in implementing the National Drug Policy, and deciding which new policy initiatives should be implemented.

The National Drug Policy states that the MCDP is chaired by the Minister of Health and includes the Ministers of Corrections, Customs, Justice, Police, Maori Affairs, Youth Affairs, Transport and Education.

Summary of research on party pills

Catherine — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:16:43 +1300

This paper summarises recent research findings on BZP/party pills, and outlines the current legislative status of BZP. It is being made available to assist organisations or people wanting to make submissions on the proposal to reclassify BZP and its analogues.