Wednesday, 12 April 2006

Turner demands swift action on party pills

United Future drugs spokesperson Judy Turner says a Waikato Hospital study on party pills, due to be released tomorrow, is a hurry-up message for Jim Anderton and the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs to decide how to deal with party pills.

"This Waikato study, which shows large numbers of 14 ? 25 year olds turned up at the emergency department having taken more than the recommended dose of party pills and many of them had mixed them with alcohol, is yet another hospital-based study to come out while the Expert Advisory Committee dawdles and still we wait to hear their decision.

"Ban or regulate ? that's the choice the Expert Advisory Committee has to make.

"What alarmed the doctors most was the scale of social acceptance to BZP. Within 10 short years, BZP has been introduced and has become the pill of choice for young New Zealanders, who think that BZP is a natural high.

"At the very least, we need regulation for BZP and other party pills to tell young New Zealanders that BZP is not a harmless plaything.

"My tolerance for the Government to make a decision on party pills weakens with every day that passes and every time another worrying study comes out.

"How many more studies will there have to be before the Expert Advisory Committee decides what it thinks is best to do? Inaction is still action and this delay further entrenches BZP in our society," says Mrs Turner.

ENDS

© Scoop Media