Party pill restrictions welcomed

Party pill restrictions welcomed by Environmental Health Institute

The Misuse of Drugs Amendment Bill enacted by a large majority in Parliament yesterday has been welcomed by the Institute of Environmental Health.

Under the amendment party drugs containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) will become restricted substances classified under a new schedule. This will enable legal restrictions to be applied to the advertising, distribution, manufacturing, sale and supply of such drugs.

“These pills have previously slipped between the gaps in terms of regulation and there has been a need to place controls around their safe manufacture and sale,” said Institute President Mike Orchard.

Despite a voluntary industry Code of Practice party pill users have not been able to rely on the quality of the pills purchased, or how much BZP they contained.

The availability of the BZP party pills has also been a matter of concern with pills being sold from dairies and available to children of any age to purchase.

The Institute believes that the amendment is a good example of an evidence based policy decision. In this regard it welcomes the select committee’s recommendation that the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs continue to monitor research on the level of harm and risk associated with BZP.

ENDS

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