Party pills could be banned

Party pills will be banned if research proves they are dangerous, a government minister said today.

Jim Anderton, who is in charge of drugs policy, said three research projects were underway into the effects of benzylpiperazine (BZP), the active ingredient in legal party pills.

"The trouble is we don't know how much is too much," he told National Radio.

"There is no information available anywhere in the world on exactly what BZP does."

Mr Anderton said the results from the research projects would go to the Government's expert advisory committee on drugs.

"I've got no problem banning BZP tomorrow," Mr Anderton said.

"But I can't act on what people say. If BZP shows, through the clinical research trials, that is it dangerous in whatever dosage, then action will be taken immediately."

Radio New Zealand commissioned tests on four brands of the "legal high" pills, which are sold over the counter to anyone over 18.

The tests found all four contained a higher level of BZP than was shown on their labels.

One labelled as 500mg had an actual level of 526mg, and the recommended dosage was two tablets.

Christchurch Hospital carried out a survey last year and found that about five people a week were coming in with adverse side effects after taking party pills.

Matt Bowden, spokesman for the Social Tonics Association which represents most of the producers and retailers of party pills, said it was unsafe to take more than 200mg of BZP.

Banning the pills would not work because they would be sold on the black market, he said.

Mr Anderton said the industry wanted to continue making and selling them, but he was going to listen to the experts who advised the Government.

- NZPA