THIS BAN WILL FAIL

Even before the ban on sales of benzylpiperazine-based party pills
came into effect on Tuesday, the prediction that it would not work was
coming true, the Nelson Mail said in an editorial on Wednesday.

There was a last-minute rush on stocks at the proliferation of
suppliers around New Zealand, and no evidence that the warning against
stockpiling would be heeded. Special low prices and queues indicated
that there will be plenty of hoarders who will make good use of the
six-month period of grace before personal possession becomes illegal
and pay no heed to the 100-pill limit that applies until then.

After that, of course, the illegal trade will take proper hold with
all the gang and crime associations that currently apply to other
banned substances New Zealanders are in the habit of using as part of
their recreation. The only thing likely to get in the way of a
thriving underground BZP-pill trade is the new crop of pills that will
be marketed to replace them.

Manufacturers and importers are planning to release at least 20
varieties containing different drugs. Caffeine is apparently making a
comeback but that's only the beginning. "Our new stuff will be just as
good," said one Wellington retailer and, without information about
what the new products contain, it's certain that the new "highs" will
test the law and quite possibly present an equal or greater health
risk than BZP pills, developed from a worming agent for cattle.

The underlying problem with party pills, cannabis, other illegal drugs
and the biggest danger of all, alcohol, is New Zealanders' willingness
to over-indulge in drugging themselves. Though certain individuals are
constitutionally incapable of controlling their intake, if the notion
of moderation in all things were to be universally adopted most of the
problems caused by alcohol and drugs would go away.

That is why education leading to a change in behaviour is so
important. Any benefits from the BZP party pills ban will be
outweighed by the loss of control that forcing sales underground
brings, and the harm that replacement drugs will do - let alone the
way that the ban will turn many good young people into criminals. This
well-intentioned change came much too late and is doomed to failure.

Greater regulation would have been a better option.