1 minute read
Party Pills
The use of legal party pills emerged in New Zealand in 1999, becoming increasingly popular in the decade that followed — in particular amongst young people. Sold under a wide range of product names, party pills were used recreationally to enhance confidence, induce feelings of wellbeing and to enable users to stay awake for long periods of time. The main active ingredients of legal party pills are benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP), both of which are central nervous system stimulants. These substances are members of the piperazine group, which are classified as synthetic designer drugs.
With no prior clinical studies having investigated the effects of combining BZP and TFMPP, nor the potential interaction between alcohol, BZP and TFMPP, there was a clear gap in knowledge. In response to concerns about both the widespread use of party pills and the frequent reports of serious adverse effects, the New Zealand Ministry of Health commissioned the MRINZ to undertake research to provide an evidence base on which to classify BZP, TFMPP and related substances under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
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This novel study, which included use of a driving simulator, shows that BZP + TFMPP party pills cause significant adverse side-effects and have real potential to cause serious harm when taken in the recommended doses and with or without alcohol. This programme of research provided the key evidence on which the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs recommended, in 2007, that pills containing BZP and any derivatives like TFMPP be classified as C1 Drugs, and their manufacture, supply and export were later banned.
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