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Party pills Party Pills We identified two online newspaper articles highlighting the use of party pills in the UK and the proposed dangers of using these new ‘designer drugs’ [1]. (Designer drugs were originally designed to circumvent existing laws, but are now used to described newly available substances). These pills are controlled by prescription medicine regulation but are regularly being sold throughout the UK and Ireland in head shops and at music festivals and gigs as a 'safer' alternative to other drugs [2].
The so-called party pills contain substances such as benzylpiperazine (BZP), originally synthesised in 1944 to destroy agricultural parasites, and 3-Trifluoromethylphenlpiperazine Monohydrocholoride (TFMPP). Both substances produce similar effects to the drug ecstasy and to amphetamines, working on the brain’s chemistry by activating the 5-HT (serotonin) system and indirectly causing the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine [3]. The user will experience a ‘high’ similar to that experienced by the drug ecstasy and like ecstasy, negative effects such as anxiety, overheating and dehydration have also been reported. Like the recent emergence of mCPP(www.drugpreventionevidence.info/web/mCPP322.asp)
BZP and other party pills were highlighted when New Zealander Matt Bowden, in 2000, re-synthesised BZP reportedly to break his addiction to the drug crystal methamphetamine [1]. In 2002, companies in New Zealand started to market and sell BZP and Bowden set up his own organisation STARGATE in order to produce, market and sell legal party pills as a ‘safer’ alternative to illegal drugs such as ecstasy and amphetamine. In 2001, Bowden approached the New Zealand government and asked for help to regulate these new ‘designer drugs’. The government responded by introducing a Class D category, in which under researched drugs such as BZP can be placed. Although legal, these drugs do have restrictions placed on them and cannot be sold to under 18’s. The New Zealand government also commissioned three studies into the use of legal party pills and the outcomes of these studies will influence the legality and classification system of the drug BZP in New Zealand. Although technically BZP is not illegal to possess in the UK, it is an illegal drug in other counties such as America, Japan, Denmark, Sweden and Australia [4].
Health Concerns Designer drugs and party pills that contain BZP are marketed as ‘safer’ alternatives to illegal drugs, which according to a report in the New Scientist (2006) “fosters the belief that they are completely harmless and encourages people to take more than the recommended dose” [4]. A study conducted at Christchurch Hospital (New Zealand) over a five-month period found that 61 patients presented at the emergency department complaining of problems associated with party pill use. The researchers found that BZP, the main ingredient in these drugs, could cause unpredictable and serious toxicity in some individuals. Their study showed that patients reported insomnia, vomiting, palpations, anxiety and that some of these adverse effects were persistent for up to 24 hours after taking the party pills. Perhaps more worrying was that fifteen patients suffered toxic seizures and two individuals experienced life-threatening toxicity [5]. The Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SHORE) recently produced a reported that found 20 per cent of the New Zealand population surveyed had tried legal party pills. The report was commissioned by the Department of Health in order to inform the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs (EACD) of the prevalence of use, health harms and gateway effects of party pills.
Title, Authors, Source Wilkins, Girling, Sweetsur, Huckle, Huakau (2006). Legal party pill use in New Zealand: Prevalence of use, availability, health harms and ‘gateway effects’ of Benzylpiperazine (BZP) and Triflourophenylmethylpiperazine (TFMPP). Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation (SHORE), Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. Objectives The main objectives of the report were to identify the population prevalence and patterns of use of legal party pills in New Zealand, the levels of poly drug use by legal party pill users and to identify the demographic characteristics of legal party pill users. The report also set out to measure the harms and problems experienced by legal party pill users and the level of availability of, and accessibility to, legal party pills. In addition, it also set out to explore the role legal party pills may play in the initiation of illicit drug use (i.e. ‘Gateway in’ hypothesis) or alternatively the cessation of illicit drug use (i.e. ‘Gateway out’ hypothesis) and to explore young people’s perceptions of the benefits and risks of legal party pill use. Findings A random national household survey of 2,010 people (aged 13-45 years) found that 20.3% of the sample had tried legal party drugs. Almost 33% of legal party drug users stated that they drank alcohol ‘more’ when under the influence of legal party drugs and 86.4% said they use ‘other’ drugs with legal party drugs (91.1% alcohol, 39.6% tobacco and 22.3% cannabis). Interestingly, legal party pill users had much higher levels of illicit drug use then the wider population. Harm from legal party drug use was categorised into four sections; areas of life harmed, physical problems, psychological problems, accessing health services. Areas of life most frequently stated were energy and vitality (19.3%), health (14.6%), financial position (8.8%) and ‘outlook on life (6.3%). Physical problems most commonly reported by users were a loss of appetite (41.1%), hot\cold flushes (30.6%), heavy sweating (23.4%) stomach pains\nausea (22.2%), headaches (21.9%) and tremors and shakes (18.4%). With regards to psychological concerns, 50.4% of party pill users reported trouble sleeping, loss of energy (18.4%), strange thoughts (15.6%), mood swings (14.8%), confusion (21.1%) and irritability (11.4%). Only 1% of users had accessed hospital emergency departments and 0,4% had been admitted to hospital. Half of respondents said the strength of legal party pills were higher than they were a year ago and 66.9% said they could purchase the legal pills in less than 20 minutes. In all 27.9% of legal party pill users who also used illicit drugs said they only used legal pill when they could not purchase illicit substances and 26.9% of these drug users said they used legal pills with illegal drugs to enhance their effects. Forty five per cent of respondents said they use legal party drugs instead of illegal drugs and those who had started out using legal party drugs (13.5%) now use illegal drugs. Conclusions This report is part of a series of research investigations into the use of legal party pills set out to inform government about the health and social issues concerning the use of party pills. While no recommendations were made in this report it does provide a clearer picture of legal party pill use and the effects it has on users of these drugs. References [1] http://www.newstatesman.com/200610230025 [2] http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2006/10/16/story [3] http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/bzp/bzp_article1.shtml [5] Gee et al (2006). Toxic effects of BZP-based herbal party pills in humans: [6] Schechter MD (1988) Use of TFMPP stimulus as a model of 5-HT1B |
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