Jacqui Dean National Party MP
22 June 2006
Shame of 10-year-olds on party pills
National Party MP Jacqui Dean says reports today of kids as young as 10 getting adults to buy them party pills should
put fresh urgency into the push to toughen up the rules around the legal highs.
"These aren't teenagers, they're primary school kids. If they're being introduced to pills at 10 where will they be at
18 or 20? This is a ticking time bomb for our youth."
Mrs Dean has been spearheading a campaign to clamp down on the sale of party pills. Her Members' Bill is currently being
considered by the health select committee.
"Jim Anderton's waffled on for months about being strong on party pills. So Mr Anderton, what do you think of clever
10-year-olds who are finding a way around the current laws?"
Mrs Dean says our community leaders and our Parliament need to send the strongest possible signal about the supply of
party pills to young kids.
"Even regular users say they struggle with an appalling 'come down' after taking party pills. Some say the nasty
after-effects last for days," says Mrs Dean.
"How would this affect the emotional, educational and mental development of a pre-teen? Let's get serious about this
issue before we put the health of more enterprising kids at risk."
ENDS