Party Pills.
Aug 8th 2005, 2:16 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Party Pills.
There has been a bit in the media recently about these legal recreational drugs that are often sold in liquor stores, party shops, dairies etc.
Up until now I've not really been concerned about them - always thought they were caffine tablets or something
.
They go by names such as ESP, Jump, Charge and Rapture. 200,000 are sold every month in NZ.
The active ingredient is benzlypiperazine. These types of pills are scheduled in the US (ie. only avaiable with prescription) their effect is supposed to be mildly euphoric and very mildly hallucinogenic. One dertivative is also used for erectile disfunction (Viagra's active ingredient is a piperazine). They are marketed here as an alternative to E, speed and P.
Side effects are reported to include heart palpitations, increased temperature and blood pressure, agitation, vomiting, seizures, abdominal pain, hallucinations and convulsions. Not surprisingly there have been calls for a ban from the medical profession and the police.
Ok, so what's the problem? - a number of shops have been selling them to kids under the age of 18. A TV programme showed that it would be quite easy for even a 12 year old to buy them.
Now I have enough of a job to do telling my pre-teens about the dangers of drugs, what tinny houses are, what P does to your brain etc. and how it is actually possible to get through life without needing to get high. What chance do they stand when they can walk into the corner store and buy BZP?
The only rationale for selling this drug is that it keeps people away from the nasty, illict stuff. Yeah. Nothing to do with the producers making lots of money from it?
Anyone else have an opinion on this and is the world really going mad?
Up until now I've not really been concerned about them - always thought they were caffine tablets or something
. They go by names such as ESP, Jump, Charge and Rapture. 200,000 are sold every month in NZ.
The active ingredient is benzlypiperazine. These types of pills are scheduled in the US (ie. only avaiable with prescription) their effect is supposed to be mildly euphoric and very mildly hallucinogenic. One dertivative is also used for erectile disfunction (Viagra's active ingredient is a piperazine). They are marketed here as an alternative to E, speed and P.
Side effects are reported to include heart palpitations, increased temperature and blood pressure, agitation, vomiting, seizures, abdominal pain, hallucinations and convulsions. Not surprisingly there have been calls for a ban from the medical profession and the police.
Ok, so what's the problem? - a number of shops have been selling them to kids under the age of 18. A TV programme showed that it would be quite easy for even a 12 year old to buy them.
Now I have enough of a job to do telling my pre-teens about the dangers of drugs, what tinny houses are, what P does to your brain etc. and how it is actually possible to get through life without needing to get high. What chance do they stand when they can walk into the corner store and buy BZP?
The only rationale for selling this drug is that it keeps people away from the nasty, illict stuff. Yeah. Nothing to do with the producers making lots of money from it?
Anyone else have an opinion on this and is the world really going mad?
Aug 8th 2005, 2:26 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Location: I'm a Brit who's lived in Auckland for the last 2 years
Posts: 136
Re: Party Pills.
Originally Posted by livewire
Anyone else have an opinion on this and is the world really going mad?
I think P gets blamed for a whole lot of non-P related stuff too. Granted it's horrible stuff and not socially acceptable by any stretch of the imagination but here the police and politicians seem to use it to explain any crime, murders, etc etc. I think that's pretty shocking considering the state of the 111 service...
And yes, the world is going mad but to tell you the truth, I reckon NZ is one of the safest places to be on the planet right now...
Aug 8th 2005, 2:31 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Party Pills.
Doctors are saying that they are seeing an increased number of people presenting with seizures. I think this is probably because some people are taking way over the recommended dosages.
I guess the price of these pills is rather high so not exactly pocket money stuff I think. But it does engender a drug taking culture IMO. How can we build a safe and responsible society on such a foundation?
I guess the price of these pills is rather high so not exactly pocket money stuff I think. But it does engender a drug taking culture IMO. How can we build a safe and responsible society on such a foundation?
Aug 8th 2005, 2:53 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 230
Re: Party Pills.
I think it's Peer Pressure!
It is a worry for any parent. My kids are like yours pre-teens and not a day goes by when their Dad drums it in to them about drugs, drinking,driving etc etc. We hope that our girls have enough sense when the time comes to go out in the big wide world but I also think it depends on who they associate with too.
My friend is in a bad position right now where she has had to send her daughter (17) to live with her Dad (Divorced) as at the local dairy where she worked they were suppling her alcohol and #2 she got friendly with some undesirable kids who then supplied her with a drug slipped into her drink who then was so off her face that she jumped off her deck at home etc, such a terrible thing I tell you. My friends (who is in another relationship) partner could not do anything, so as sad as it was, she sent her daughter away who lives in another part of NZ and will now only see her in the school holidays.
Her other daughter (15) is getting picked on at the moment also at school and on the school bus because she doesn't want to hang out with her friends anymore who are drinking, smoking and hanging out with boys. I really admire her for doing this ,but it is so sad also when her mum tells me that she cried herself to sleep again last night etc.
So what's the answer and how do we keep our children safe? We can only guide them I think and hope they do okay in this mad world.
Carol
It is a worry for any parent. My kids are like yours pre-teens and not a day goes by when their Dad drums it in to them about drugs, drinking,driving etc etc. We hope that our girls have enough sense when the time comes to go out in the big wide world but I also think it depends on who they associate with too.
My friend is in a bad position right now where she has had to send her daughter (17) to live with her Dad (Divorced) as at the local dairy where she worked they were suppling her alcohol and #2 she got friendly with some undesirable kids who then supplied her with a drug slipped into her drink who then was so off her face that she jumped off her deck at home etc, such a terrible thing I tell you. My friends (who is in another relationship) partner could not do anything, so as sad as it was, she sent her daughter away who lives in another part of NZ and will now only see her in the school holidays.
Her other daughter (15) is getting picked on at the moment also at school and on the school bus because she doesn't want to hang out with her friends anymore who are drinking, smoking and hanging out with boys. I really admire her for doing this ,but it is so sad also when her mum tells me that she cried herself to sleep again last night etc.
So what's the answer and how do we keep our children safe? We can only guide them I think and hope they do okay in this mad world.
Carol
Aug 8th 2005, 3:47 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Party Pills.
Carol, what a sad story, I really feel for your friend and her daughters. All we can do is try to do our best for our kids, it's good to hear her daughter is being strong but she must feel really miserable.
You're right about the association too, peer pressure is such a strong influence. I'm glad we have people like Allan Peachey (principal of Rangitoto High School) over here on the Shore who takes a pro-active stand against the drug pushers and tinny houses in the area. He makes it easier for kids to say no.
You're right about the association too, peer pressure is such a strong influence. I'm glad we have people like Allan Peachey (principal of Rangitoto High School) over here on the Shore who takes a pro-active stand against the drug pushers and tinny houses in the area. He makes it easier for kids to say no.
Aug 8th 2005, 6:47 am
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: May 2005
Location: Canberra, ACT
Posts: 1,222
Re: Party Pills.
My eldest was offered drugs when we first landed in NZ at school, he declined! Then my other son had 2 boys in his class expelled first week of term at Intermediate school for dealing drugs at school (age 12).......I am watching them like hawks, I go on and on and on about drugs, and hopefully they will listen NOT to ever even try them.
It worried me more because were I lived in the Uk drugs were not a problem in our small village, so it hit me more when I got here and found it was rife.
No doubt drugs will have hit our small sleepy village back home by now, but the whole drugs scene scares me.
I question the kids about their friends, where they are, who they are, what are they like......my kids must think I am ever so nosy, but...........
The whole world is mad........I hate watching the news these days it is nothing but doom and gloom and crime.......
It worried me more because were I lived in the Uk drugs were not a problem in our small village, so it hit me more when I got here and found it was rife.
No doubt drugs will have hit our small sleepy village back home by now, but the whole drugs scene scares me.
I question the kids about their friends, where they are, who they are, what are they like......my kids must think I am ever so nosy, but...........
The whole world is mad........I hate watching the news these days it is nothing but doom and gloom and crime.......
Aug 8th 2005, 7:01 am
#7
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 692
Re: Party Pills.
Originally Posted by livewire
There has been a bit in the media recently about these legal recreational drugs that are often sold in liquor stores, party shops, dairies etc.
Up until now I've not really been concerned about them - always thought they were caffine tablets or something .
They go by names such as ESP, Jump, Charge and Rapture. 200,000 are sold every month in NZ.
The active ingredient is benzlypiperazine. These types of pills are scheduled in the US (ie. only avaiable with prescription) their effect is supposed to be mildly euphoric and very mildly hallucinogenic. One dertivative is also used for erectile disfunction (Viagra's active ingredient is a piperazine). They are marketed here as an alternative to E, speed and P.
Side effects are reported to include heart palpitations, increased temperature and blood pressure, agitation, vomiting, seizures, abdominal pain, hallucinations and convulsions. Not surprisingly there have been calls for a ban from the medical profession and the police.
Ok, so what's the problem? - a number of shops have been selling them to kids under the age of 18. A TV programme showed that it would be quite easy for even a 12 year old to buy them.
Now I have enough of a job to do telling my pre-teens about the dangers of drugs, what tinny houses are, what P does to your brain etc. and how it is actually possible to get through life without needing to get high. What chance do they stand when they can walk into the corner store and buy BZP?
The only rationale for selling this drug is that it keeps people away from the nasty, illict stuff. Yeah. Nothing to do with the producers making lots of money from it?
Anyone else have an opinion on this and is the world really going mad?
Up until now I've not really been concerned about them - always thought they were caffine tablets or something
. They go by names such as ESP, Jump, Charge and Rapture. 200,000 are sold every month in NZ.
The active ingredient is benzlypiperazine. These types of pills are scheduled in the US (ie. only avaiable with prescription) their effect is supposed to be mildly euphoric and very mildly hallucinogenic. One dertivative is also used for erectile disfunction (Viagra's active ingredient is a piperazine). They are marketed here as an alternative to E, speed and P.
Side effects are reported to include heart palpitations, increased temperature and blood pressure, agitation, vomiting, seizures, abdominal pain, hallucinations and convulsions. Not surprisingly there have been calls for a ban from the medical profession and the police.
Ok, so what's the problem? - a number of shops have been selling them to kids under the age of 18. A TV programme showed that it would be quite easy for even a 12 year old to buy them.
Now I have enough of a job to do telling my pre-teens about the dangers of drugs, what tinny houses are, what P does to your brain etc. and how it is actually possible to get through life without needing to get high. What chance do they stand when they can walk into the corner store and buy BZP?
The only rationale for selling this drug is that it keeps people away from the nasty, illict stuff. Yeah. Nothing to do with the producers making lots of money from it?
Anyone else have an opinion on this and is the world really going mad?
Aug 8th 2005, 7:17 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Party Pills.
Sorry, I should have said It's a place where you can buy drugs wrapped up in little tin foil parcels.
Aug 8th 2005, 9:05 am
#9
Galaxy 1: Cadbury's 0
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,606
Re: Party Pills.
Originally Posted by livewire
There has been a bit in the media recently about these legal recreational drugs that are often sold in liquor stores, party shops, dairies etc.
Up until now I've not really been concerned about them - always thought they were caffine tablets or something .
They go by names such as ESP, Jump, Charge and Rapture. 200,000 are sold every month in NZ.
The active ingredient is benzlypiperazine. These types of pills are scheduled in the US (ie. only avaiable with prescription) their effect is supposed to be mildly euphoric and very mildly hallucinogenic. One dertivative is also used for erectile disfunction (Viagra's active ingredient is a piperazine). They are marketed here as an alternative to E, speed and P.
Side effects are reported to include heart palpitations, increased temperature and blood pressure, agitation, vomiting, seizures, abdominal pain, hallucinations and convulsions. Not surprisingly there have been calls for a ban from the medical profession and the police.
Ok, so what's the problem? - a number of shops have been selling them to kids under the age of 18. A TV programme showed that it would be quite easy for even a 12 year old to buy them.
Now I have enough of a job to do telling my pre-teens about the dangers of drugs, what tinny houses are, what P does to your brain etc. and how it is actually possible to get through life without needing to get high. What chance do they stand when they can walk into the corner store and buy BZP?
The only rationale for selling this drug is that it keeps people away from the nasty, illict stuff. Yeah. Nothing to do with the producers making lots of money from it?
Anyone else have an opinion on this and is the world really going mad?
Up until now I've not really been concerned about them - always thought they were caffine tablets or something
. They go by names such as ESP, Jump, Charge and Rapture. 200,000 are sold every month in NZ.
The active ingredient is benzlypiperazine. These types of pills are scheduled in the US (ie. only avaiable with prescription) their effect is supposed to be mildly euphoric and very mildly hallucinogenic. One dertivative is also used for erectile disfunction (Viagra's active ingredient is a piperazine). They are marketed here as an alternative to E, speed and P.
Side effects are reported to include heart palpitations, increased temperature and blood pressure, agitation, vomiting, seizures, abdominal pain, hallucinations and convulsions. Not surprisingly there have been calls for a ban from the medical profession and the police.
Ok, so what's the problem? - a number of shops have been selling them to kids under the age of 18. A TV programme showed that it would be quite easy for even a 12 year old to buy them.
Now I have enough of a job to do telling my pre-teens about the dangers of drugs, what tinny houses are, what P does to your brain etc. and how it is actually possible to get through life without needing to get high. What chance do they stand when they can walk into the corner store and buy BZP?
The only rationale for selling this drug is that it keeps people away from the nasty, illict stuff. Yeah. Nothing to do with the producers making lots of money from it?
Anyone else have an opinion on this and is the world really going mad?
As a parent, yes I do not want my children involved in drugs, BUT the flip side of this is that it is perfectly natural and normal and the children who try these things are not usually deliquents to be ashamed of. Unfortunately peer pressure drives these things and they can in some cases have fatal effects which is understandably devasting for all those involved.
But my main question is - is this situation any worse in NZ over the UK, or is this something you would be fearing wherever you lived?
Aug 8th 2005, 11:16 am
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 230
Re: Party Pills.
I think it is something I fear where ever I chose to live. I don't think I have really paid attention to it until now, mainly because like "Livewires" children mine are at the lovely Teenage stage where they think they know everything.
I'm like "Rascal" too and question the kids constantly but it's only because we care.
At the High School where my daughter goes too sometimes they do random drug searches which I think is great and as long as WE the parents keep repeating ourselfs and reminding them about the dangers etc, hopefully we go through the next 10 years or so with ease
and not like :scared: .
Carol
I'm like "Rascal" too and question the kids constantly but it's only because we care.
At the High School where my daughter goes too sometimes they do random drug searches which I think is great and as long as WE the parents keep repeating ourselfs and reminding them about the dangers etc, hopefully we go through the next 10 years or so with ease
and not like :scared: .Carol
Aug 8th 2005, 12:07 pm
#11
Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Location: Te Atatu - West Auckland NZ
Posts: 46
Re: Party Pills.
I watched that "target" programme with interest too....
I think the biggest problem with these 'legal dance pills' is the fact that they are so tame compared to "real" drugs. The show made clear that they are likely to be completely harmless at the stated dose. The problem is that users will then try to get a better 'high' by taking more and more of these supposedly 'harmless' drugs.
We can equate this directly with alcohol use. Alcohol in moderation, is completely harmless - even mildy beneficial. Overdose on it and it becomes dangerous - even potentially fatal (and in fact is worse in some respects since it is chemically addictive)
When young people start drinking - they usually start off mild with the 'alcopops' or RTDs - many owant to get to the 'harder' stuff though and move on to spirits. I mean - who doesn't work out how 'good' alcohol is by the percentage figure?
I think the media should focus around the dangers of exceeding the dose -and maybe the manufacturers should make them more expensive - and only sell them in packs of 'recommended dose' (these things get sold in boxes of 40 believe it or not!)
I guess the HARD question is that - do these dance pills stop the users going for harder and more dangerous stuff - or does the familiarity of taking drugs to have a good time launce the users down a one way street?
My opinion is that legal is probably best - as I honestly think that legal prostitution is best - we have both here in NZ - but I wouldn't consider either! - but with legalisation comes some measure of control.
Unfortunately - I do not believe the right controls are in place yet - as the Target show proves. I have no kids yet - but I am certainly not looking forward to the time when I have to try and instill some sense into them...
IMHO there's a very fine line between giving enough freedom and information to make a sensible and informaed choice - and labouring an issue to the point of rebellion. That's what worries me!
Anyway - I certainly think the BZP pills are more than Pro-Plus - but I also think they are probably better than speed or E or P - insomuch that it does take a significant overdose to cause any problems. Legal drugs also have the advantage that the quality of the product means that they are likely to have predictable effects - unlike kitchen-lab produced illegal drugs - made and mixed with who-knows-what chemicals.....
It's a tough one - but it's not gonna go away - in any country!
I think the biggest problem with these 'legal dance pills' is the fact that they are so tame compared to "real" drugs. The show made clear that they are likely to be completely harmless at the stated dose. The problem is that users will then try to get a better 'high' by taking more and more of these supposedly 'harmless' drugs.
We can equate this directly with alcohol use. Alcohol in moderation, is completely harmless - even mildy beneficial. Overdose on it and it becomes dangerous - even potentially fatal (and in fact is worse in some respects since it is chemically addictive)
When young people start drinking - they usually start off mild with the 'alcopops' or RTDs - many owant to get to the 'harder' stuff though and move on to spirits. I mean - who doesn't work out how 'good' alcohol is by the percentage figure?
I think the media should focus around the dangers of exceeding the dose -and maybe the manufacturers should make them more expensive - and only sell them in packs of 'recommended dose' (these things get sold in boxes of 40 believe it or not!)
I guess the HARD question is that - do these dance pills stop the users going for harder and more dangerous stuff - or does the familiarity of taking drugs to have a good time launce the users down a one way street?
My opinion is that legal is probably best - as I honestly think that legal prostitution is best - we have both here in NZ - but I wouldn't consider either! - but with legalisation comes some measure of control.
Unfortunately - I do not believe the right controls are in place yet - as the Target show proves. I have no kids yet - but I am certainly not looking forward to the time when I have to try and instill some sense into them...
IMHO there's a very fine line between giving enough freedom and information to make a sensible and informaed choice - and labouring an issue to the point of rebellion. That's what worries me!
Anyway - I certainly think the BZP pills are more than Pro-Plus - but I also think they are probably better than speed or E or P - insomuch that it does take a significant overdose to cause any problems. Legal drugs also have the advantage that the quality of the product means that they are likely to have predictable effects - unlike kitchen-lab produced illegal drugs - made and mixed with who-knows-what chemicals.....
It's a tough one - but it's not gonna go away - in any country!
Aug 8th 2005, 10:30 pm
#12
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Party Pills.
A good reponse there SteveNZ.
I find it contradictory that high schools and some intermediate schools are being visited by sniffer dogs (a very good idea too) but kids can pick up legal stuff from the Dairy and overdose on the way home.
When did kids ever do anything in moderation? How many teenages would have the self control to only take one pill or one drink or one cigarette. There is a reason why all these things come in multi-packs - because people take them in excess.
It may be safer for them to take legal pills as opposed to P cut in someone's kitchen. But the risk is relative isn't it? I'm sure the medical profession deals with enough OD's of BZP to have a right to be concerned.
As for legal prostitution. Well that's another matter but it seems to me that the government will collect income tax and gst where ever it can - be it from drugs or brothels.
I find it contradictory that high schools and some intermediate schools are being visited by sniffer dogs (a very good idea too) but kids can pick up legal stuff from the Dairy and overdose on the way home.
When did kids ever do anything in moderation? How many teenages would have the self control to only take one pill or one drink or one cigarette. There is a reason why all these things come in multi-packs - because people take them in excess.
It may be safer for them to take legal pills as opposed to P cut in someone's kitchen. But the risk is relative isn't it? I'm sure the medical profession deals with enough OD's of BZP to have a right to be concerned.
As for legal prostitution. Well that's another matter but it seems to me that the government will collect income tax and gst where ever it can - be it from drugs or brothels.
