Media Statement

25 October 2007

Local plea to outlaw party pills

Outlaw the manufacture, sale, supply and possession of BZP and other related party pills as soon as possible.

That was the message delivered to the Health Select Committee yesterday by Daniel Newman, who along with Angela Dalton successfully challenged the right of a Manurewa liquor retailer to sell party pills in July this year.

“Banning the sale and supply of party pills is very important. The Misuse of Drugs (Classification of BZP) Amendment Bill needs to be passed into law because we need to prevent benzylpiperazine (BZP), phenylpiperazine, and related substances, which constitute the active ingredients in the majority of party pills, from being traded in our community and consumed by our young people.

“The Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs has considered the research available on BZP and advised the Associate Minister of Health that BZP and other related substances pose a moderate risk of harm. Every day that party pills are purchased and consumed constitutes another day when people jeopardise their health and well-being,” Daniel Newman said.

The submission presented to the Health Select Committee was lodged in the name of the Manurewa Action Team, which has been campaigning to outlaw party pills. Although the submission supports the passage of the Bill, it also recommends an amendment to remove an amnesty provision.

“We oppose clause 6 of the Bill, which provides for a six-month amnesty after the law comes into force, during which time it would not be an offence to possess for personal use less than 5 grams of 100 flakes, tablets, capsules, or other drug forms each containing some quantity of the drug. It we are going to get rid of party pills we have to have zero tolerance of BZP, phenylpiperazine and other related substances. That needs to start the day the law receives Royal Assent, not six months down the track.

“People know the days where one can legally supply and possess party pills are numbered. Earlier this year our successful campaign to prevent the sale of party pills in a Manurewa liquor outlet received national publicity. Moves by the Manukau District Licensing Agency to challenge other liquor retailers have been widely reported. The government’s policy view on this matter is well known.

“An amnesty provision is unnecessary and sends mixed messages to people who need to know that it’s not acceptable to possess those particular types of drugs. The Bill needs to be passed into law, but no amnesty provision should apply,” Daniel Newman said.

End.

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