LEGAL HIGH: THE PARTY PILLS STRONGER THAN ECSTASY

Party pills five times the strength of ecstasy are being sold over the
counter because the Government has failed to ban them.

The selection of legal, mind-altering drugs, similar to cocaine,
ecstasy and speed, are being legally sold over the counter to anyone
aged over 18, in at least 13 so-called 'head stores' around the
country, as well as stalls outside big music festivals and gigs.

Support groups are becoming increasingly concerned about the recent
explosion of pep pills because they contain the dangerous substance
benzylpiperazine (BZP) which acts as a substitute for MDMA, the banned
substance in ecstasy and speed pills.

Despite warnings from experts that they cause heart problems and panic
attacks, the Government said it has no plans to ban them. However, it
is backing a new drugs awareness campaign being launched to warn young
people of the dangers of these "legal highs".

The Department of Health said BZP is not a scheduled substance under
the Misuse of Drugs Act, but its status is kept under constant review.
However, it is banned and classified as a Class A substance in the US
since 2002.

In a statement, the Department of Health said it "reviews any evidence
that substances are being abused and are causing significant harm to
public health. For example, earlier this year the law surrounding
pyscho-tropic mushrooms in their raw state was clarified in the light
of evidence of increased availability and significant harm being done".

The National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) discussed the emerging
trend for the first time at a meeting two weeks ago. It said it will
gather information on BZP and consult with its EU counterparts before
making any recommendations to the Government.

Support groups say Jax pills and Smileys -- both containing BZP and
five times the strength of any other dance pills -- are becoming the
drug of choice for college-goers and even Leaving Cert students, who
see them as a more accessible and safer alternative to drugs such as
speed, Ecstasy and LSD.

Dr Des Corrigan from the Trinity College School of Pharmacy, said BZP
is no safer than any other drug. "The main concern would be
dehydration and the risk of heat stroke. The other concerns would be
head- aches and a flu like hangover that lasts a few days. There is
also the risk of panic reactions and high blood pressure. It would
surprise me if anyone would think they are getting anything safer," Dr
Corrigan said.

Michael McDonagh of the Drugs Awareness Programme (DAP) said caffeine
and herbal tablets have been around for a long time, but since May
they are getting more and more calls about these pills, which are a
bit more serious in what they contain.

"We are concerned that they will become a big story at exam time next
year," Mr McDonagh said.

DAP and the Health Service Executive (HSE) are planning an awareness
campaign for early next year, which will advise young people, their
parents, and professionals about the dangers of these drugs.

DAP said since the ban on magic mushrooms earlier this year it has
received thousands of calls relating to Salvia, a more dangerous but
legal hallucinogen.

DAP is calling for the regulation of the socalled 'head stores' which
sell these pills, along with growing kits, pipes and other
accessories.