GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS A BAN ON PARTY PILLS

The Government has been advised to ban party pills. What do you think?

A selection of your latest views follows:

MJN Yet another useless law is conceived, thanks to widespread
ignorance and an utter lack of respect for individuals' rights. I
wish I could say I was surprised.

GRAHAM KEYE The reason bans do not work is because people see the
hypocrisy of current regulation and thinking. We all know that
alcohol is bad for one but we still drink it as most of us use common
sense. The same can be said for cannabis. Anybody who smokes it,
ignores what is said as they know that the Government have no idea
what they are talking about and for that matter, most people. Alcohol
and tobacco are the major problem but good ol' Jim wants to appease
the moralistic puritans who want to control our lives without giving
us credit for running our own lives.

JEFF It is interesting to read some of the comments made on this
issue. Danny Rocha seems to think all (presumably just recreational)
drugs should be banned, although he doesn't feel the need to give any
reason or justification whatsoever for why this should be so.
Natarsha says that we should "concentrate on the statistics and
research provided by ER Hospital departments". Well, ER departments
only see people who present with medical emergencies. Statistically,
the overwhelming majority of people who use party pills do not end up
in the emergency room, or need any medical attention at all. In fact,
the vast majority of people who use recreational drugs are perfectly
normal and functional members of society, who have jobs and probably
sit next to you at work. I agree with Natarcha in that the facts need
to be considered in drug policy - but that does not mean petty
politics, peoples moralistic views, fears, prejudices and ignorance.

ALBERT People are comparing the pills to alcohol, fine we can do
that. Are you allowed to drink/be drunk in public? No. Are you
allowed to drink and drive? No. So if you were to compare these pills
to alcohol, then the same rules should apply. I don't know if it
should be banned, but I know comparing the pills to alcohol is
stupid. As for the people going to illegal drugs if the pills were
banned, they probably do anyway. Plus its like arguing "people should
be paid more, otherwise they will go around mugging and robbing
people". Another stupid argument.

DANNY ROCHA Yes, I totally agree with having a ban on party pills
(BZP). If they are in fact a kind of drug then they must be banned.
This will of course redirect people to other drugs, as people have
expressed in their views, so it means restructuring our legal system
and have more effective and stricter laws and penalties towards
drugs. If south Asian countries can have the death penalty for drugs
smuggling then at least we can have life imprisonment for the offenders.

GLEN SMITH While I support the ban of party drugs simply because it
is grooming young people to normalize drug taking I can't help
compare it with smoking. I see tobacco packing with dire health
warnings that it will kill you yet it is still legal to buy tobacco.
Why? Surely the government is satisfied with the now legalised
gambling activity introduced to replace the Tobacco Tax so why not
ban smoking? The casinos seem to be doing fine without the Smokers.
In any case ban tobacco first. The maths supports this theory doesn't it?

GARY JONES Ban it and you will drive it underground. Keep it legal
and you can regulate it.

JUSTIN To even imagine calling people criminals just because they
like to take party pills in preference to alcohol, tobacco, or other
drugs just shows the blind stupidity and hypocrisy of our so-called
'leaders' - or does it perhaps show their vested interests? Obviously
party pills are (for the known short term anyway) much safer than
alcohol which claims many lives (both directly and indirectly) every
year. Banning them is only going to increase a chasm in society
between illegal users and those that seek to criminalise, even
imprison them, for their crime of having fun without hurting anyone else.

NATASHA I think it's rubbish that you want to ban party pills, I've
used them in the past and I think they are like alcohol, you should
know your limits. As long as alcohol is legal then so should party
pills. They are all drugs, just different kinds!

NATARSHA Parliament should ignore public views, and concentrate on
the statistics and research provided by ER Hospital departments, and
highlight to people that taking drugs is stupid and detrimental
either way you look at it. Live life for free, save your party pill
money and put it towards saving for a house!

ALAN WILKINSON I agree with your editorial. An outright ban will
simply be another bonanza and income stream for the crooks and gangs,
both those selling alternative and more dangerous illicit drugs and
those who will start selling party pills. In 20 years time we will be
looking back on exactly the same abject failure from every
perspective as the criminalisation of cannabis has been. Illegal
cannabis is now reportedly the highest value crop in the USA and, as
with alcohol, prohibition expanded its market.

PHIL STEELE "The report said New Zealand was increasingly viewed as a
primary BZP supplier, "which has the potential to impact on New
Zealand's international reputation". Committee chairman Ashley
Bloomfield said recent incidents of New Zealand manufacturers having
shipments turned away by Australian customs officials had added to
concerns." This will be the real reason BZP pills are banned. Nothing
to do with "public safety". It's about not deviating from the US led
war on drugs. Our international reputation is more important to idiot
politicians than actual rational decisions, and past experience that
prohibition does not work.

NICK Ismail It is quite amazing how the current government can be so
hypercritical when it becomes to "drugs" and the public's welfare. So
much effort has been put into researching the possible effects of BZP
including the commissioning of a special body to review its future.
Whereas on the other hand, the government seems to take a more
cavalier attitude towards the use of a Norwegian based meningococcal
vaccine that is currently being administered to our children (since
2001). This vaccine hasn't even been fully tested (phase III trials
were not performed), even more alarming is the fact that the
Norwegian parent vaccine (to which the New Zealand one is
bio-identical to), was withdrawn from use in Norway due to it side
effects (for more more info see http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations_99.htm).

MICHELLE To be honest, I don't think much will be gained from banning
these pills. It seems like the government is focusing on party pills
to avoid dealing with the bigger issues of alcohol and cigarettes,
which cause many more social problems. As many people pointed out -
at least when they are legal they can be regulated and taxed! I
should also add that after taking these pills a couple of times I
refuse to take them again as they are not that much fun! They don't
last that long and they make you feel awful the next day. Most people
will take them a couple of times, discover they don't really
need/like them, and then stop buying them. Problem solved!

ANDY (Kiwi in London) I have noticed that very few, if any people
here are taking ecstasy. Things are very different in the UK, where
pills are 2-3 pounds each, with very widespread use. If party pills
are banned, people would switch to ecstasy. I am absolutely sure of
this. The type of people that go to raves / dance clubs will still
exist, and they will be looking for alternatives. At least party
pills are controlled, regulated and out in the open. Banning them
would be a mistake.

JOHN I go out clubbing / to raves regularly. I have seen people use
them as an alternative to other (illegal) drugs such as ecstasy and
speed. I believe that if they were banned then the use of these
illegal drugs would surge as people would not have any alternative.
BZP usage probably would not stop though as you can buy 99.9% pure
BZP off the street at lower costs then party pills anyway. For
example; $20 for a gram of BZP whereas in a pack of party pills you
will get maybe 600mg of BZP (all up) and the rest TFMPP and other
additives for usually around $40 - $50. I do believe, however, that
the banning of party pills will just increase the usage of illegal
party drugs. I personally have chosen them over e and speed. From my
experience the only negative effects from using party pills are lack
of an appetite the next day to (very) short term insomnia (if you
exceed the stated recommended dose) ie you cannot sleep until maybe
8am till maybe midday. The comedown of illegal drugs such as e and
speed are no were near as physically draining although you find with
e usage you get depression for the next few days (known by many as
"ecky monday").

LARS The only people who will benefit are the gangs, organised crime,
the P dealers. Is that what we want? Even Jim Anderton conceded that
party pills are less dangerous than alcohol so why aren't they
banning alcohol? With a bit of regulation these pill could be safe
for consumption .I would rather my kids get their high legally than
going through a drug dealer.

PAULA Didn't the 1990 Proceeds of Crime Act supposedly designed to
combat black market supply of drugs give us tinnie houses on every
second street, ie. gangs realised their clubhouses could be
confiscated, so they moved rapidly into the wider community and
flourished. Doh! I am totally sceptical that banning BZP will do
anything other than create more harms, directly linked to that black
market and some of the cowboys in the BZP industry, particularly in
Christchurch. According to addiction specialists - the people with
the most knowledge, who are at the coalface there is a 2% potential
for dependence to BZP. That is very very low. This substance is more
benign than peanuts and coffee. Stupid politicians and uninformed
members of the public!

ATOMANTNZ At the end of the day a drug is a drug! What type of
message are we trying to send to young people? Early in life we try
to teach them that drugs are a bad thing and you should only have
those prescribed by a doctor. Why then should it change when they get
older, talk about send a conflicting message. If a substance has the
ability to alter your blood chemistry then we need to have this
tightly controlled, and yes this goes for alcohol too (we all know
how much damage this does).

ANDREW I think this recommendation by the EACD is a huge mistake for
New Zealand. The reality is that removing these products is not going
to reduce demand for these kind of substances. It will simply propel
demand from these products to illicit substances. New Zealand already
has a major problem with P, all this decision will do is push
consumers onto P and give more power to NZ's gangs. Crazy crazy move.

DERRYN Yes a few people might have seizures and die. But many more
have died from alcohol related incidents and the government certainly
wouldn't look into banning that! I think party pills are a good
alternative to real drugs and even too getting drunk. And how would
anyone enjoy dance/house music without them?!

JAMES Silly, silly, silly. When will governments learn not to waste
time and resources combating party drugs? Users will find them either
legally or otherwise and take them to enhance their collective
experiences. Tax them and get use of the tax revenue. It's pretty
simple, unless you're talking about a drug e.g. P that is clearly
detrimental to the public good.

ROSS WEAL How can anyone possibly justify banning these (party pills)
when you can buy cigarettes which are PROVEN to give you cancer and a
whole load of other health problems!?

MATT O'S And how much did this study by the 'expert committee' cost
the taxpayer for information any emergency room doctor could have
told the Government? I don't think party pills should be banned, just
not sold at (pretty much) every dairy and bottle store in town. Also
raise the age of purchase to 20. Aren't there harder drugs that need
this attention.

MICHAEL Those not up on the actual facts may be inclined to believe
there have been deaths recorded by party pills. Given the attention
this subject will gain in the coming months I personally have used
BZP products and tend to liken them to alcohol in the potential
damage factor although alcohol has a far greater REAL damage factor,
and would suggest the reason party pills may be over used is because
they lack the negative gain factor of the hangover that alcohol gives
in spite of a very similar side effect of dehydration. All said you
cant tell an idiot how to be safe. It seems laws keep being made to
protect the idiots from the enjoyment of normally sane and reasoned people.

KIM This change will not be good, regulation of party pills is
definitely required (at the moment it's self regulation ) but being
reactionary about it is NOT going to solve problems. I can tell you
right now that if many people going out for a big and long night
cannot get party pills, they are going to go and find something else,
trust me it's a fact. As the most widely available and easy to get
stimulant drug other than party pills is 'P' I don't think that this
whole move is an especially clever one.'P' has recently halfed in
price and dealers are now including it in other 'purchases' or
handing out the first couple of doses free-children around 14 are
currently being targeted-these guys have NO qualms in hooking as many
people as possible to this insidious crud. I probably take party
pills twice a year, if that, but respect the fact that I live in a
country where as a grown adult I am able to decide that for myself.
Party pills are no way near as dangerous as the other stimulant drugs
available in NZ society right now. If you have a heart or seizures
condition it is up to you not to take that risk-much the same as you
wouldn't go on a huge rollercoaster with those things either. The
statistcal risk are actually very small, I have flatmates who have
said to me 'It's better to take these than go out and get some 'P',
- -not that they wouldn't take 'P' but they have a much safer, better
option-before wading off into the dance crowd with their trusty
bottle of water. I know you think you are doing the right thing but
there is a much, much, much bigger monster waiting around the corner.
Thousand upon thousands of people take party pills every weekend, the
incident rate is very small.

KERSTIN What's next? Coffee; tea; wine; tobacco; burgers; dairy;
wheat; sugar; chewing gum? There are studies out there to suggest all
these are potentially dangerous substances, many of which are proven
to cause serious health problems. Yet, we all have our glass of
Champagne on Christmas, have we not? Prohibition of stuff has never
worked to make it less harmful -- au contraire. Read today's Herald
about the experiences in the US. There is no such thing as total drug
control. However: if you relegate substances to the black market, the
risks multiply. Educate people about possible effects of what they
are consuming and let them decide for themselves. Or proof to the
public that illegal drugs are causing by itself significantly more
damage than legal drugs. Prohibited, they do instigate serious harm
indeed because, if they are illegal, you put them in the hands of
criminals. Don't go there!