Consumers Shut Out Of Govt Party Pill Consultation

Consumers do not get a say in the Government’s party pill ban proposal, according to an industry importer and advocate of the recreational substance.

The proposal to reclassify BZP (the main ingredient in party pills) as a Class C drug has been put forward by Associate Minister of Health Jim Anderton.

Social Tonic Association of New Zealand (STANZ) chairman Matt Bowden claims the Select Health Committee’s review of the proposal is an unjust process, which fails to consider consumers’ interests.

“I don’t think we can trust one minister to make that decision and [I] wonder why consumers and the public are being kept in the dark,” says Mr Bowden.

Bowden claims the Select Health Committee process does not engage in public consultation. “The key stakeholder group is the public, who need to be consulted, this should be open to the nearly half million voting aged adults who already made their feeling known by buying and consuming the product,” says Mr Bowden.

The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act was established to allow potentially dangerous new drugs to be classified and controlled quickly. This process is needed as these drugs are brought into New Zealand before laws are introduced to prevent people using them.

The Associate Minister of Health has granted an extension until March 23 for submissions to the Select Health Committee on the reclassification of BZP. However, this is only an invitation for submissions from manufacturers, retailers, researchers and key stakeholders.

Mr Bowden maintains the process is being rushed and that this will result in an unfair review of a consumer product. “To be frank this affirmative resolution process was designed for new emerging threats that come along suddenly... this is not a new emerging threat,” he says.

Mr Bowden believes making BZP illegal is unlikely to result in consumer safety as it will no longer be legal to manufacture party pills in a controlled environment.

“When you take something with a high consumer demand and you make it illegal, you just create a black market and the environment becomes more dangerous,” says Mr Bowden.

However, Jim Anderton’s proposal is based on research from the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs, which claims that BZP poses a moderate health risk to consumers.

Stuart Anderson of the Higher Ground Rehabilitation Trust, which assists young people in overcoming addictions, says that, “The short and long-term effects of BZP use are still predominantly unknown”.

Japan, Denmark, Greece, Sweden and Australia have criminalised party pills containing BZP by classifying them as a Class C drug, like marijuana. New South Wales classifies BZP as a Class A drug like heroin or cocaine.

But demand may not disappear if New Zealand follows suit. “Many consumers will look to the black market to satisfy their desire”, says Nicolaus Moon editor of Infusion Magazine, which covers and promotes dance parties.

An anonymous Party pill user said, “I feel it’s unfair that I have not been consulted with as a consumer, you can’t just take my right to choose away.”

Fact Sheet

Email Interview – Matt Bowden (Chairman of STANZ) Contact: Matt Bowden,

1. How is your proposed STANZ Regulatory Code different to current regulation?

2. Have you had a response yet from the Select Health Committee on STANZ’s Regulatory Code? If not when do you expect a response?

3. Have you had much of a response (support) from key stakeholders on the Regulatory Code? If so who, what?

4. Do you think the current process under the Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act provides for a fair process to consider STANZ’s Regulatory Code? If not why not?

5. What alternative process could be used to fairly represent key stakeholder groups?

6. How are consumer’s interests being represented in the process?

7. How can consumers provide an opinion on either the proposal to ban BZP and the STANZ’s Regulatory Code?

Email interview – Nicolaus Moon (“A-Class Party Pills”, Managing Editor “Infusion” magazine)

1.) Have you read about the new party pill regulatory code? What do you think?

2.) Do you feel party pill distributors have a social obligation towards the public in terms of health and safety?

3.) What effects do you think the prohibition of BZP in New Zealand will have on the industry?

Telephone interview – drug rehab – Stuart Anderson (Higher Ground Drug Rehabilitation Turst)

1.) What's your take on party-pills?

2.) Do we know the long-term effects of BZP usage? Should it be classified as a class 'C' drug as per the government's intentions?

3.) Is there a link between party-pill usage & harder drug use/binge drinking? Are there any stats to confirm this?

Face to face interview Consumers – Scott Maud

1.) Do you think as a consumer you have adequately been given the opportunity to voice your opinion on the BZP Ban?

Ideas

• Party pills non-existent 5-years ago

• A “cure” for ecstasy/P use/binge drinking?

• Are party pills part of the problem or the solution for the changing face of Auckland’s youth?

• Do manufacturers/distributors have a social responsibility to users?

• Link to hard-drug use?

• No research on the long-term effects of BZP

• Overseas solutions

Online Sources

‘Party pill group advocates code as alternative to ban’, NZ Herald, 12/2/07

‘Party pill hoard foils ban’, NZ Herald, 28/1/07

‘Party pill study aborted over 'severe adverse events'’, NZ Herald, 21/1/07

‘Ban party pills - Mother's plea as son fights for life”, NZ Herald, 15/2/07

Legal ‘Party Pills’ in New Zealand

Press release 14 February 2007 Decision-making process on BZP shonky – STANZ

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