Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

NZ should take notice of party pill research

Jacqui Dean National MP for Otago

16 April 2006

NZ should take notice of party pill research

News that New Zealand research may lead to a complete ban on party bills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) in Australia shows the urgent need to take the research seriously, says National MP Jacqui Dean.

The Melbourne Sun Herald reports that Australian authorities are deciding whether their key ingredients - BZP and trifluromethylpiperazine - should be banned. Some states including NSW and Queensland have already banned them but others have not.

"There is a growing body of evidence - both anecdotal and science-based - that pills containing BZP and sold as party pills are causing serious side effects in people who take them particularly when taken with alcohol," says Mrs Dean.

"They are marketed as a safe alternative to P, yet growing evidence is showing the effects to be unpredictable, with people as young as 12 years experiencing side effects like racing heart, palpitations and convulsions.

"As a result of concerns brought to me about the marketing and sale of party pills, I started a petition calling for further research and much tighter controls on the advertising and sale of party pills.

"The petition of 7500 is with Parliament's Health Select Committee and I will be giving evidence to the committee.

"Cabinet Minister Jim Anderton has sat on his hands for nearly a year while the evidence has mounted about the danger of these drugs.

"I call on him to finally act and to actually do something about this growing problem," says Mrs Dean.

ENDS

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.