PARTY PILLS 'A HUGE DANGER' TO CHILDREN

PARTY pills that mimic the effects of methamphetamines and other class
A drugs should be turfed out, says a Gisborne high schools drug and
alcohol counsellor.

Brett Mataira told concerned parents at an information evening on
Gisborne's party culture, that he did not understand why the
Government had not recognised the dangers of these drugs.

"For me these pills mimic other drugs like speed and ecstasy," Mr
Mataira said.

"What that means, as far as I am concerned, is that will lead to major
health problems sooner or later for our youth.

"These party pills are absolutely of no benefit to anyone in
society."

Mr Mataira said none of the students he had worked with in the high
schools had admitted to using them but he had seen the damage they
could do to people through his work with Awhina House.

St John Ambulance manager Shane Clapperton said the major problems
occurred in first-time users of party pills, who were unaware of the
effect the pills would have on them.

"Suddenly they are losing control of everything around them . . . they
really are scared."

Mr Clapperton said his staff saw it time and time again at the Rhythm
and Vines Festival.

He told parents to tell their children to avoid taking
them.

"It's a huge danger."

Gisborne police detective Eric Hunter said party pills were trying to
copy the effects of other hard drugs, such as LSD and speed.

"When younger people stop getting a big enough effect from them, they
start to take more and more," Det Hunter said.

Trying to find the same initial buzz could eventually lead them on to
harder drugs.

"They are a great concern for me."

One concerned parent asked Det Hunter why party pills were still legal
if their effects were so concerning.

Det Hunter said there was nothing the police could do while the
legislation still considered them legal.

"It was only last year that they passed the legislation to restrict
the sale of the pills.

"There is not much the police can do at this stage," he said.