KEY POINTS:
The Government has announced it is to ban party pills.
Jim Anderton, Chair of the Ministerial Committee on Drugs announced a ban on party pills by December.
Here is the latest selection of Your Views:
Jay (NZ)
I was shocked Anderton would make such a poor choice. "Harm Reduction" - one would assume this meant reducing harm, and that is obviously regulating BZP and leaving a safer alternative to addictive and life ruining illegal drugs. I guess not. Then I assumed Anderton is Minister of Health for a reason, and this is just my point of view. Wrong again, as the vast majority of feedback has been negative toward Jim's knee jerk reaction. It would seem Jim's choices don't reflect what the people want, only a small, out of touch, narrow minded generation's view. Thanks for nothing Jim. It's a shame the media (yes, this is you NZ Herald) didn't cover BZP objectively from the start as most naysayers would be very, very, surprised at the actual facts.
Sam (Wellington)
BZP vs ecstasy: Banning it will pretty much stop the use of BZP but it will increase the use of Ecstasy (E) as BZP is a substitute drug for E and most people I know won't waste their time with BZP party pills if they might as well get a better experience off E. I don't use either but I feel this is one of those times when we can stop and assess the situation and think about things rationally.
Al
What are you trying to do by banning the party pills? You one of the countries I travelled through that I thought had some brains. If you ban these pills you'll drive it under ground once under ground any body will be making them in there back garden and believe me the customer base will still be there more willing to buy un registered or government officials to keep an eye on it. Just think of all the other countries that have exactly the problems. You could have an explosion of users and with ecstasy. It is a game of roulette. Think about it, don't push the problem else were.
Tehay (Auckland)
I don't support any idea made by the NZ government NZ has already made the biggest jump in the wrong direction ever since they started with the discipline of children in schools. The children of today say I can do what i like and the worst thing you can do to me is send me to my room, or as they say the naughty mat, and then you wonder why our prison population is getting bigger. Well, from me to you, thank you. If you looked past your office door a bit more the biggest portion of the prison problem would be the age group that got away with anti-social behaviour at school with a detention as punishment and it's getting worse.
N
I really don't believe that BZP is necessarily a gateway to other drugs. I think that it actually works as a barrier against LSD and ecstasy because it's legal. I also believe there are more people willing to go into hospital because of that same reason. I agree that young kids should not be taking BZP but there is a R18 restriction. More control over the drug is probably necessary but not banned.
Bretticles
Let's face the truth: for most young people BZP has become passée. A good number of young people react badly to BZP, and after 1 or 2 experiences realise it is not for them. I am one of these people, but have always found comfort in the fact that "I had a choice". A good number of young people on the other hand, after a good few bad experiences, realise alcohol has a negative affect on their personalities and search for an alternative. Why should we be restricting and criminalising these people?
The solution: Raise the drinking (and mind altering substance) age to 21. Leave the BZP alone, but put increasing pressure on the companies manufacturing it to adhere to moral & health guidelines. Decriminalise marijuana and stop making criminals out of 'silly' young people trying to have a good time. They are NOT benevolent... so don't treat them like a criminal!
thunder
I am sure that if these pills were taxed, there would not be an issue at all. Is there any move to ban alchohol or cigarettes? The last I heard both these could kill you, just look at all the Drink Driving campaigning, not to mention graphic anti-smoking campaign. I think a sensible idea would be if there were restrictions over the dosage of BZP in each pill, and users were educated on the benefits of taking vitamins whilst using party pills, and what a safe dosage actually constitutes. I think that there is an opportunity for party pills to be turned into a safe and positive thing, so why a blanket ban? Surely we could not let the actions of a few idiots, limit the options for the rest of us?
MikeE
Jim Anderton should resign as the minister responsible for drug policy - his stated goal is harm reduction. He has failed miserably in this due to his families personal issues with drugs. He has let his anti-freedom ideology get in the way of what is a public health issue and handed criminals a new product to sell, black market BZP. Users will now be forced to shop on the street, expect to see a massive rise in people using street drugs on the weekend, including a return of pure methamphetamine to clubland. Those of us who enjoyed going out every weekend were happy to see the end of dirty meth users in clubs when BZP arrived, it was a godsend. I'll put money that it will be back in massive amounts, along side all of its horrible side effects within 12 months. Jim Anderton will be responsible for a rise in Meth use, mark my words.
Andrew
We let people climb to the top of Mt Everest even though there is something like a 10 per cent chance they'll die trying. Why? Because it's their life, their [informed] choice, their fun. Why can't we take the same position with party pills? What's the difference? Maybe it's because governments (and business) are intuitively opposed to anything that may promise high pleasure at low cost. How do you control people with money if they don't need it or crave it?
Hmmmm
So, if Mr Anderton is banning a substance because it "runs the risk of death", why exactly is marijuana still illegal?
Freedom
To all the holier-than-thou non drug takers, you need to get over yourselves. Your snide remarks have added nothing of substance to this thread. Just because you choose not to take drugs does not mean the rest of the country has to follow your self-righteous ways. What we need in this country is non bias drug education and the freedom to make our own informed decisions. We should be treated like adults, not naughty children. The minority that actually abuse drugs should be treated as having health problems, not criminal ones.
I'm not going to judge and condemn those that enjoy taking party pills rather than drinking alcohol, and I am equally not going to judge the "squares" who are just as happy to get "high on life". Each to their own, live and let live! As has been stated, prohibition and "banning" things simply does not work. This is why prostitution and abortion are now legal, because the Government realised there was no way to stop such dealings happening, so better to legalise and regulate it for the safety of those that choose to be involved in such services. When are they going to realise that taking a similar approach to drugs would be much more constructive?
Steve, health & ethics researcher (Christchurch)
A key BZP prohibitionist works in the Christchurch Emergency Department. This person released information about patients, without their consent, to the media. He evaded privacy laws by getting the parents' consent to abuse the rights and reputations of young adults. This sabotaged the trust young people should feel in emergency medical teams, especially in an overdose situation with alcohol and/or other drugs. This points to a disturbing trend for Government's 'integrated state agency' policy to invade private activities with doctors in both salvationist and police uniform, as a 'medical militia'. In a later Christchurch case a photo of a comatose patient, supposedly due to BZP, was taken and published without his consent. Instead of waiting for the patient to recover to give consent, he was treated as already dead. This seems how all BZP users, and all recreational substance users, are treated by the religious zealots who insist on banning all mind altering substances that conflict with their 17th century puritanical addictions. They claim to own our minds, to save us from our sinful desires for risky pleasure, and have turned our science committee into a disguised heresy board.
Mama Mia (Auckland)
Yes, even that Ms Turia wish them to be legal so all her killer gang friends can still make a living without stealing.
Idiot users to blame
Blame the idiots who think they can handle more than there body can withstand and then the clowns end up in hospitals, fools they are and now the Government is been pressured by the public and the parents of those clowns who've gone and spoiled it for everyone else. They are $40 cheaper then xstacy and do a great job of taking someone to another level of excitement and entertainment especially with house music, you only need to take half and then the other half about an hour and a half later and you will enjoy a good time provided you drink a lot of water because it will dehydrate you.
Andrew Atkin
Isn't it so desperately unfortunate that the government can passionately invest its time into anti-smacking and anti-party pill legislation, and pull out threatening regulatory guns over isolated accidents (the woman who had her power cut off) yet, at the same time, stand back and let the over-rated dollar ruin our economy, stand back and let Telecom screw the country for another five solid years (before they finally do something), and stand back and let the over-rated housing market cripple thousands of young people's lives. Maybe it's time for Ms Clark to stop celebrating what she has apparently achieved, and instead focus on what she has not achieved. Forget the pills Helen - focus on the r.e.a.l. issues.
17 year old female!
I don't use party pills often but still like the idea that they are there to purchase legally when I want them and it's not the "real" thing. Jim Anderton categorised all herbal pill users as "young partiers". It's not only young people that use them, and to me the effects of party pills are better and safer then alcohol. I think many others would agree.
Bill (Auckland)
I think the ban is a bad idea really. Also, to expound that no one else should want to take drugs just because one doesn't personally do so is equally foolish. Humans have been taking mind-altering substances, for various reasons, since the dawn of mankind. What the Government has now effectively done is place a substance that could have been regulated by them into the hands of criminal gangs - who will have absolutely no regard for the health of the users. Or, now people will start buying those stupid E pills (with who knows what in them) for $90 a pop - yeah, that's what they go for in Auckland. And, guess where that money goes - to criminal gangs. By the way, if the Government is really serious about banning dangerous substances they ought to start with alcohol!
Hawkeye 4077
It's sad to see that so many people need a drug to have a good time. Oh yes, notice who these party pill users are going to use other drugs? Who said these things are not addictive?
Suzy (Christchurch)
Taking pills to "enjoy" partying sounds a bit stupid, surely it is the company of the other partygoers one is supposed to enjoy?
OD - operation drugless
Too little, too late! They should have been banned before they even got on the market. Pharmaceutical companies go through years of vigorous testing, but so-called herbal or natural products are dumped on the market virtually without regulation. Giving 6 months grace is absurd. Vast quantities will be snapped up and huge profits made. I know why the politicians want to regulate TV cameras in parliament. Because they are all asleep!
Stu, Auckland
To all those in the "Get a life, you drug addicts" camp, 'need' has very little to do with entering a mind altered state, it's all about desire. And if you need to know why it is desired, I suggest you read the rest of the world news. Who wouldn't want a mind vacation from this shambles planet we live on. War, environmental destruction, species extinction, plus the local kiddies camp report from parliament each day. And one more thing, it's not all about going to parties or gigs, I suggest to anyone who has to pay for a subscription for Viagra or anything else, forget the doctors scrip, go to your local dairy, buy a bzp "E" equivalent and shag the night away. Peace out!
JE
What's with all the threats to move on to stronger drugs if the beloved party pill gets banned. They were probably going there anyway. Just making the threat proves their tiny brains are already stuffed!
19yr Working Male
Okay, so your taking away party pills huh? We'll guess instead I've got to go to the real stuff. You know, the stuff that really can hurt you, can make you do things that can really get you in trouble. I guess I don't have a choice. Come on guys get real.
Mathew
I don't like party pills, but I don't support this ban! As a parent I don't like the thought of my kids taking drugs! However that's my problem and as a parent my job to ward against, I don't want anybody else to suffer because I'm a bad father or can not control my offspring.
I think I'd rather them taking a drug that I know is what it says it is, rather than buying E where you don't know what's been cut in to it.
Iain Williams
Yet another example of this nanny state approach to life. You have a problem with a small minority of idiots who can't handle something so legislate so we all suffer the loss of choice and freedom. Why not just come out and ban alcohol and tobacco while you're at it. Not to mention fatty foods, salt and sugar, loud music, laughter and personal beliefs not off your own volition. P.C really does stand for Piecemeal Communism.
Charlie
Another piece of blind legislation bowing to b-s media hype. "Here's a great alternative to illegal drugs that does have some side effects, but these could be regulated" goes out the door in favour of "ban the things" which only leads people back to the illegal alternatives, which is more money for the gangs etc etc. Look at Amsterdam, one of the lowest rates of teen pot smoking in the world, yet the loosest laws. Another dumb, blind piece of legislation you've come to expect from this government.
Sam
I believe that the ban will put party pill users back on to the illegal alternative, because they like that long night buzz/high and will simply not give up that life style just because of the ban. Party pills are not dangerous if you follow the instructions and don't have too many, and in all reality what cases do hospitals see more of in the weekends alcohol cases or party pills? Oh and another thing, Uni students aren't the only ones that use party pills, pull your head in Jim!
Starboy
Prohibition did not work, all leading governments are aware of this now. We need better solutions. Our drug minister has said that the onus is on the party pill industry to show that they can develop safety solutions, and so that is what the party pill industry will do. Well organised businesses have a far better chance of solving the drug problem using technology than law makers will ever have of solving it using prisons and misinformation.
Greg Zemke-Smith
What absolute hypocrisy! This from Police Assoc pres Greg O'Connor "...it is a joke having some legal drugs and some illegal. O'Connor says he believes children need to grow up with the mentality that all mind-altering drugs are wrong" What's alcohol if not a "legal drug" and a "mind-altering" one at that. Our children certainly aren't being taught that this drug is wrong! Alcohol is almost certainly responsible for more social misery than all illicit drugs combined. If you want to really do something about curbing destructive behaviour and teen / young adult health and safety then do something about alcohol Oh sorry I forgot, alcohol is sacrosanct because the ivory tower wonks like to have their tipple. Let the victims of alcohol abuse suffer so our upper echelons can continue to imbibe, unfettered by the sorts of prohibitive laws applied to other substances. By the way, unlike Mr O'connor really I am against the consumption of all mind-altering drugs: I don't see alcohol as something different worthy of being treated differently, it is no better and in some cases it's worse.
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