BZP Powder Now illegal in New Zealand… UK possibly soon to follow.
Mike Gracia
April 25, 2008
BZP powder has been used in ´legal party pills´ in New Zealand for many years now. The substance has proved very popular with part goers and clubbers, both in New Zealand and the UK.
Proponents of BZP use have long stated that BZP helps reduce illegal drug abuse, ease drug addiction and also helps to combat drug related crime. In New Zealand it is reported that over 20 million doses of BZP have been consumed over the last few years, with very little bad press or reports of ill effects.
Many people are concerned that as it is now illegal to possess, sell, buy, import or manufacture BZP and related substances, New Zealand party goers will resort to taking ecstasy, or that the quality of the BZP powder being sold will decrease, and possibly become contaminated with other substances that are more dangerous - With the drug lords taking over the importation and sale of the substance whereas previously this was in the hands of large wholesalers and retail outlets.
It has been said by some that the banning of BZP in New Zealand is a ´vote grabbing´ policy:
"If the pills were really dangerous they would have been banned six or seven years ago," said Matt Bowden, founder of Stargate International which first developed BZP-based party pills in this New Zealand.
"The politicians pushing for a ban are probably looking to attract votes...it's a moral positioning statement by the two main political parties."
Mr Bowden said the pills had been available for eight years without causing a single fatality or lasting injury.
"In New Zealand alone approximately 400,000 adults consumed over 26 million pills ... alcohol kills about 1000 Kiwis per year, cigarettes about 5000."
When the Misuse of Drugs (Classification of BZP) Amendment Bill was passed only the Greens, the Maori Party and ACT opposed it.
BZP supporters say that Anderton´s (Jim Anderton, Associate Minister of Health in New Zealand – the main supporter of the ban) objection to party pills is related to family experience of the harm drugs can do rather than a medical analysis of this particular pills´ effects. However Anderton rejects this suggestion referencing The Medical Research Institute of New Zealand´s study, which was stopped early, in November last year.
The Benzylpiperazine (BZP)/Triflouromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) and Alcohol Safety Study was stopped due to participants having "adverse" reactions to the pills in two of the test groups (7/35 participants).
In the group that was administered party pills only (4/10), and the group given party pills plus six alcoholic drinks (3/7) the effects were agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, vomiting and migraines.
"It is nonsense that this [his stance on BZP party pills] has anything to do with my family background." Anderton said.
Whatever the reason, BZP Powder is now illegal in New Zealand, and the UK may soon follow suit.
In the UK it is illegal to sell BZP for the purpose of consumption, as the substance is said to contain a salt of piperazine – Which is on the medicines list.
However it is still legal to sell BZP powder for research purposes, and there are several businesses doing this online. These companies are keen to separate themselves from online stores that sell BZP products for consumption (yes, although illegal, some UK stores still sell BZP for consumption, risking prosecution by the UK MHRA).
The European Union has recommended that BZP become a class C drug, and this is said to be likely to happen before the end of the year.
Proponents of BZP use have long stated that BZP helps reduce illegal drug abuse, ease drug addiction and also helps to combat drug related crime. In New Zealand it is reported that over 20 million doses of BZP have been consumed over the last few years, with very little bad press or reports of ill effects.
Many people are concerned that as it is now illegal to possess, sell, buy, import or manufacture BZP and related substances, New Zealand party goers will resort to taking ecstasy, or that the quality of the BZP powder being sold will decrease, and possibly become contaminated with other substances that are more dangerous - With the drug lords taking over the importation and sale of the substance whereas previously this was in the hands of large wholesalers and retail outlets.
It has been said by some that the banning of BZP in New Zealand is a ´vote grabbing´ policy:
"If the pills were really dangerous they would have been banned six or seven years ago," said Matt Bowden, founder of Stargate International which first developed BZP-based party pills in this New Zealand.
"The politicians pushing for a ban are probably looking to attract votes...it's a moral positioning statement by the two main political parties."
Mr Bowden said the pills had been available for eight years without causing a single fatality or lasting injury.
"In New Zealand alone approximately 400,000 adults consumed over 26 million pills ... alcohol kills about 1000 Kiwis per year, cigarettes about 5000."
When the Misuse of Drugs (Classification of BZP) Amendment Bill was passed only the Greens, the Maori Party and ACT opposed it.
BZP supporters say that Anderton´s (Jim Anderton, Associate Minister of Health in New Zealand – the main supporter of the ban) objection to party pills is related to family experience of the harm drugs can do rather than a medical analysis of this particular pills´ effects. However Anderton rejects this suggestion referencing The Medical Research Institute of New Zealand´s study, which was stopped early, in November last year.
The Benzylpiperazine (BZP)/Triflouromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) and Alcohol Safety Study was stopped due to participants having "adverse" reactions to the pills in two of the test groups (7/35 participants).
In the group that was administered party pills only (4/10), and the group given party pills plus six alcoholic drinks (3/7) the effects were agitation, anxiety, hallucinations, vomiting and migraines.
"It is nonsense that this [his stance on BZP party pills] has anything to do with my family background." Anderton said.
Whatever the reason, BZP Powder is now illegal in New Zealand, and the UK may soon follow suit.
In the UK it is illegal to sell BZP for the purpose of consumption, as the substance is said to contain a salt of piperazine – Which is on the medicines list.
However it is still legal to sell BZP powder for research purposes, and there are several businesses doing this online. These companies are keen to separate themselves from online stores that sell BZP products for consumption (yes, although illegal, some UK stores still sell BZP for consumption, risking prosecution by the UK MHRA).
The European Union has recommended that BZP become a class C drug, and this is said to be likely to happen before the end of the year.
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