'NEW' DRUGS FIRST TARGET OF NEW HEALTH COMMITTEE

Potentially life threatening drugs including One4b and Fantasy are
among the first to be targeted for re-classification by a new drug
committee.

An expert advisory committee on drugs which provides advice to the
Minister of Health on drug classifications met for the first time
Tuesday in Wellington.

The committee was established to streamline the process of
legislating for substances that may be subject to abuse and their
recommendations would be forwarded to the minister, said Ministry of
Health chief adviser of public health, safety and regulation, Bob
Boyd.

The move is partly in response to doctors' warnings against taking
products containing One4b (1,4 butanediol) and the Fantasy drug gamma
hydroxy butyrate, as well as other associated chemicals such as
sodium oxybate and gamma butyrolactone.

The warnings followed the death of Auckland student Shawn Brenner,
22, in April who died after taking Fantasy.

One4b is a drug with similar properties and effects, but which is now
marketed as an industrial solvent for cleaning compact discs and
audio tapes.