WAIKATO LINK TO PILL ACTION

Health officials want one of the main ingredients in new generation
party pills restricted after four Waikato users became seriously ill,
including one who suffered a stroke.

Advice to the Government's expert drug committee highlights concerns
about DMAA (dimethylamylamine), a derivative of geranium oil, which
is a "psychoactive substance" that reportedly gives users an
adrenaline rush. Emergency department heads blew the whistle on DMAA
after a spike in users admitted to Waikato Hospital following a ban
on BZP pills.

Four serious cases transferred from Thames to Waikato Hospital in
June and July prompted the Health Ministry to issue a voluntary
suspension of its sale in powder form in October.

The ministry also sought the hospital's urgent assistance to contact
retailers in the region and request they withdraw the product from
sale, pending further investigation into the substance.

DMAA is contained in a number of new generation party pill substances
including Sunrise and Hummer, which flooded the market when BZP
varieties were banned and are being sold nationally in stores,
including dairies, without age restrictions.

The industry estimates about 100,000 DMAA-based party pills have been
sold since BZP was banned in April.

The Health Ministry said it "believes the regulation of DMAA as a
restricted substance would be a preferable course of action to the
status quo which offers no controls around the marketing and
availability of the substance".

WAIKATO CASES

- - A 30-year-old Thames woman suffering vomiting, a headache and
agitation after consuming powder bought from a local store.

- - A 30-year-old man admitted in an agitated state, vomiting and with
a headache so severe a scan was conducted to rule-out brain haemorrhage.

- - A 17-year-old boy who had taken two non-BZP party pills admitted
with drowsiness, complaining of a severe headache, nausea and vomiting.

- - A 45-year-old man admitted after taking DMAA powder suffering a
haemorrhagic stroke ruptured blood vessels leaking blood into the
brain, as well as other symptoms.