PARTY-PILL TAKERS TURN TO NEEDLES

Party-pill users are putting themselves at greater risk by injecting
benzylpiperazine (BZP).

The safety of the main active ingredient in party pills, BZP, has been
under scrutiny from the Government, which is deliberating whether to
make the drug illegal.

Christchurch Hospital emergency medicine specialist Paul Gee said he
had treated at least three patients in the past year for using BZP
intravenously.

"We have had a couple of them have seizures following it," he
said.

He said the toxic side-effects of using BZP intravenously were
potentially far greater.

"You're getting a much higher more concentrated dose of the drug
hitting the brain at a much quicker rate. Rather than having it
sitting in the stomach defusing out over two to three hours, you have
it right then and there," he said.

Gee said people using needles were at risk of injuring a blood vessel,
creating an infection, or contracting hepatitis B, C or HIV, as well
as having lung complications if the product was not pure.

Another medical expert, who declined to be named, said doctors had
been treating an increasing number of people suffering mental illness
after taking party pills, including people who had used the drug
intravenously.

Users would buy BZP in powder or capsule form, empty the contents into
water and inject it intravenously, he said.

"IV use has been going on for a while, but I don't think it's common
knowledge that it's happening.

"The public health department was not aware of it - they are
now."

Party pills are not listed as controlled drugs or restricted
substances, so they can be legally produced and sold.

However, Associate Health Minister Jim Anderton is expected to make a
decision on the classification of BZP next month.

An expert advisory committee on drugs has recommended party pills
containing BZP be classified as a class C drug, the same as cannabis,
and outlawed.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Long, of the Christchurch drug squad,
said the squad was aware of people injecting BZP, but not at retail
outlets.

"People will experiment and try anything ... But we really have not
been policing BZP because it's not against the law. Our focus has been
on more serious and harmful drugs, not to say BZP isn't harmful."

Health risks associated with injecting BZP were a wider issue, he
said. "I certainly would not encourage people to inject BZP. It's
ridiculous we have got it in this country and it's being used the way
it is. It encourages people to experiment with illicit drugs."

Social Tonics Association of New Zealand (Stanz) chairman Matt Bowden
said it was rare for people to inject BZP.

"I am aware that a very small number of people are IV users and some
of them have tried to inject BZP, but the majority don't like it
because it's a skin irritant.

"Most consider it an unpleasant experience."

In February, 23-year-old Greymouth disc jockey Ben Rodden was placed
in an induced coma after taking party pills. His family has since been
lobbying for a ban on party pills.