Dr. Leospace
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- 28/10/05
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Party-Pill Takers Turn To Needles
Party-pill users are putting themselves at greater risk by injecting benzylpiperazine ( BZP ).
The safety of the main active ingredient in party pills, BZP, has been under scrutiny from the Government, which is deliberating whether to make the drug illegal.
Christchurch Hospital emergency medicine specialist Paul Gee said he had treated at least three patients in the past year for using BZP intravenously.
"We have had a couple of them have seizures following it," he said.
He said the toxic side-effects of using BZP intravenously were potentially far greater.
"You're getting a much higher more concentrated dose of the drug hitting the brain at a much quicker rate. Rather than having it sitting in the stomach defusing out over two to three hours, you have it right then and there," he said.
Gee said people using needles were at risk of injuring a blood vessel, creating an infection, or contracting hepatitis B, C or HIV, as well as having lung complications if the product was not pure.
Another medical expert, who declined to be named, said doctors had been treating an increasing number of people suffering mental illness after taking party pills, including people who had used the drug intravenously.
Users would buy BZP in powder or capsule form, empty the contents into water and inject it intravenously, he said.
"IV use has been going on for a while, but I don't think it's common knowledge that it's happening.
"The public health department was not aware of it - they are now."
Party pills are not listed as controlled drugs or restricted substances, so they can be legally produced and sold.
However, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton is expected to make a decision on the classification of BZP next month.
An expert advisory committee on drugs has recommended party pills containing BZP be classified as a class C drug, the same as cannabis, and outlawed.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Long, of the Christchurch drug squad, said the squad was aware of people injecting BZP, but not at retail outlets.
"People will experiment and try anything ... But we really have not been policing BZP because it's not against the law. Our focus has been on more serious and harmful drugs, not to say BZP isn't harmful."
Health risks associated with injecting BZP were a wider issue, he said. "I certainly would not encourage people to inject BZP. It's ridiculous we have got it in this country and it's being used the way it is. It encourages people to experiment with illicit drugs."
Social Tonics Association of New Zealand ( Stanz ) chairman Matt Bowden said it was rare for people to inject BZP.
"I am aware that a very small number of people are IV users and some of them have tried to inject BZP, but the majority don't like it because it's a skin irritant.
"Most consider it an unpleasant experience."
In February, 23-year-old Greymouth disc jockey Ben Rodden was placed in an induced coma after taking party pills. His family has since been lobbying for a ban on party pills.
Pubdate: Thu, 05 Apr 2007
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Author: Jo Mckenzie-Mclean
Party-pill users are putting themselves at greater risk by injecting benzylpiperazine ( BZP ).
The safety of the main active ingredient in party pills, BZP, has been under scrutiny from the Government, which is deliberating whether to make the drug illegal.
Christchurch Hospital emergency medicine specialist Paul Gee said he had treated at least three patients in the past year for using BZP intravenously.
"We have had a couple of them have seizures following it," he said.
He said the toxic side-effects of using BZP intravenously were potentially far greater.
"You're getting a much higher more concentrated dose of the drug hitting the brain at a much quicker rate. Rather than having it sitting in the stomach defusing out over two to three hours, you have it right then and there," he said.
Gee said people using needles were at risk of injuring a blood vessel, creating an infection, or contracting hepatitis B, C or HIV, as well as having lung complications if the product was not pure.
Another medical expert, who declined to be named, said doctors had been treating an increasing number of people suffering mental illness after taking party pills, including people who had used the drug intravenously.
Users would buy BZP in powder or capsule form, empty the contents into water and inject it intravenously, he said.
"IV use has been going on for a while, but I don't think it's common knowledge that it's happening.
"The public health department was not aware of it - they are now."
Party pills are not listed as controlled drugs or restricted substances, so they can be legally produced and sold.
However, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton is expected to make a decision on the classification of BZP next month.
An expert advisory committee on drugs has recommended party pills containing BZP be classified as a class C drug, the same as cannabis, and outlawed.
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Long, of the Christchurch drug squad, said the squad was aware of people injecting BZP, but not at retail outlets.
"People will experiment and try anything ... But we really have not been policing BZP because it's not against the law. Our focus has been on more serious and harmful drugs, not to say BZP isn't harmful."
Health risks associated with injecting BZP were a wider issue, he said. "I certainly would not encourage people to inject BZP. It's ridiculous we have got it in this country and it's being used the way it is. It encourages people to experiment with illicit drugs."
Social Tonics Association of New Zealand ( Stanz ) chairman Matt Bowden said it was rare for people to inject BZP.
"I am aware that a very small number of people are IV users and some of them have tried to inject BZP, but the majority don't like it because it's a skin irritant.
"Most consider it an unpleasant experience."
In February, 23-year-old Greymouth disc jockey Ben Rodden was placed in an induced coma after taking party pills. His family has since been lobbying for a ban on party pills.
Pubdate: Thu, 05 Apr 2007
Source: Press, The (New Zealand)
Author: Jo Mckenzie-Mclean
