DANGEROUS DRUGS ON DUNEDIN'S STREETS

Police urge party pill ban

Alarming side effects from legal party pills landed five young people in
Dunedin Hospital at the weekend, leaving police and health officials
concerned at the apparent increasing popularity and accessibility of the
substances.

The pills, named Charge, Rapture, Blast, Exodus and Frenzy, contain
benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP). It is
illegal to possess these chemicals, or any pills which contain the
chemicals, in the United States and some parts of Australia.

However, the chemicals are not restricted in New Zealand and the pills,
which are claimed to have a similar effect on users as ecstasy or P, are
readily available at outlets in Dunedin, including bars, clothing stores,
music shops and retailers servicing street culture.

The pills, which are labelled as dietary supplements, cost $40 for six
tablets of Charge when purchased by an Otago Daily Times staff member this
week from Cosmic Corner, in George St. Three Rapture tablets were supplied
free as part of the transaction.

The labels state the party pills are a legal alternative to amphetamines and
ecstasy and promise to make the user feel "alive, energised and able to
dance the night away".

While inquiries reveal such "energy pills" have been available for about two
years, last weekend's incidents appear to be the first in which the hospital
and police have been involved.

Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd, of Dunedin, said police were contacted by hospital
staff this week, concerned at the number of patients suffering from side
effects, which included heart palpitations and an increase in blood pressure
and body temperature.

In extreme cases, the piperazines produced hallucinations, convulsions and
respiratory depression.

"This is news for us and we have spent the past couple of days researching
the drug and its effects," Sgt Lloyd said.

"What we have found out is that it does appear to be legal in New Zealand
and seems readily available."

This was a concern, he said.

The Poison Centre in Dunedin confirmed yesterday it had received several
calls from Otago medical practitioners in the past two weeks wanting more
information on the pills, after having patients suffering from the side
effects.

Dunedin Hospital emergency department consultant Dr Alan Forrester said,
like any drug, if not taken correctly or in incorrect quantities, the party
pills could prove fatal.

"The symptoms presented to us at the weekend were agitation, feeling like
their heart was racing, sweatiness and anxiety.

"In one case, concerns were such that the person was admitted."

Hospital staff had been briefed this week about the pills and their side
effects in case last weekend was a "sign of things to come".

"It's obviously becoming more popular and some places are even advertising
it so I wouldn't be surprised if this is not a one-off for us," Dr Forrester
said.

It is understood the five people treated at Dunedin Hospital at the weekend
were all students and had taken either Charge or Rapture 12-18 hours
earlier.

They had overdosed on the pill and, while four of the people to seek help
were treated and discharged within hours, one male was admitted and kept in
overnight.

Sgt Lloyd said he had referred the information to his superiors.

"In situations like this, we have to take our lead from other countries. We
have a substance which has been classified in America because of its effects
on people and it has now led to five people needing hospital attention in
one weekend here.

"While I can't do this myself - it will have to come from higher up - I
would suggest legislative action may be necessary."

The head of the United States Department of Justice drug enforcement
administration, based in Washington DC, yesterday said, when approached,
that BZP and TFMPP became "substances of concern" in 2000. By September
2002, they were put under the Controlled Substances Act and anyone found
with the drug faced the same penalties as those found with ecstasy.

The New Zealand Customs Department tabled a paper on piperazines at a
Ministry of Health committee meeting in June last year. It had noticed an
increase in importations of the substances and asked for more information
from other agencies regarding the need to control them.