BILL TO CRIMINALISE PARTY PILLS LAUNCHED

"They are dangerous." That was Otago MP Jacqui Dean's response when
asked why she was taking on the hefty charge of launching a private
member's bill to ban the manufacture, sale and possession of BZP and
reclassify the drug as class C, putting it in line with cannabis.

She yesterday launched the Misuse of Drugs (Prohibition of BZP)
Amendment Bill in Invercargill because of the level of concern
surrounding party pills in the south.

While the usage of party pills was growing nationally, Mrs Dean said
these problems seemed to trickle south from the major centres. She had
concerns about the future for the region if the party pill industry
continued to grow.

Queenstown in particular, which is known as a party town, had a large
number of outlets selling party pills.

"It's great it's known as a party town but it needs to be changed so
it's a party town without the need for drugs."

She said her interest in the topic arose from a party pill shop, owned
by an Invercargill woman, opening in Oamaru in 2005 and the resultant
growth in "stupid crime" such as disorderly behaviour around the town.

Since then she has become increasingly aware of how dangerous these
pills are, not just physically, but because they can lead people into
the use of harder drugs including methamphetamine or P.

"They are designed to mimic the effects of these harder drugs like
narcotics and opiates, so then it is a shorter step for people," she
said.

Another area of concern to Mrs Dean was the advertising and marketing
of party pills, which is targeting younger age groups.

"They commonly have bright, colourful cartoon characters on them,
which is appealing to youth as young as four," she said.

A drug trial was suspended halfway through because those running it
could not ethically let the volunteers continue with the negative
side-effects they were experiencing, Mrs Dean said.

"If these happened in a controlled environment, I am worried about
what happens in a dark nightclub when a youth decides at 2am they need
another party pill to enjoy themselves.

"We're teaching our young people they can't go out and have a good
time without taking a pill," Mrs Dean said.