Banning BZP not the Answer, say Youthline

Youthline says the wellbeing of young people is being forgotten in the debate on banning BZP party pills.

According to Youthline, the current bill to ban piperazine based pills does not address problems around the use of party pills.

“Young people get into trouble when they misuse party pills by taking too many or by mixing them with other drugs,” says Youthline National Spokesperson Stephen Bell.

Youthline say they are concerned that banning BZP will not affect drug use, as retailers have already prepared new lines of replacement pills. New drugs will simply take the place of BZP, making the law change ineffective, they say.

Youthline recommends limiting sale to restricted specialist outlets, where safety information can be provided and age restrictions properly enforced, alongside continued research into BZP and its effects.

“What is most important is focusing on harm minimization as opposed to criminalizing thousands of young people who are either not likely to change their behaviour just because the law changes or will seek out uncontrolled, illegal drugs instead,” says Bell.

A 2006 report from the Centre for Social and Health Outcomes Research and Evaluation shows that half of BZP users also report taking illegal drugs.

ENDS

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