Press Release

From Jennie Milne [Programme Director Drug Proofing Your Kids]

Re SHORE survey on Party Pills
Wednesday 14^th June, 2006

“The survey just released by SHORE funded by the National Drug Policy Discretionary Grant Fund confirms that parents are wise to be concerned about the widespread availability and use of party pills containing BZP [benzlypiperazine] and TFMPP [triflurophenylmethylpiperazine].” says Jennie Milne Programme Director for Drug Proofing Your Kids, Focus on the Family NZ. “When I speak to parents about these pills in the context of our Drug Proofing Your Kids presentations, pointing out that they are illegal in a number of countries including the USA, most states of Australia and Greece, I often get parents shouting at me ‘so why did they make them legal in the first place?!’

This troubling report has highlighted the fact that making party pills legal over the age of 18 in New Zealand is having a further impact on normalising recreational drug use in NZ.

Focus on the Family takes the firm view that any new substance being introduced into our communities for purely recreational drug use purposes should be made illegal until proven legal. We encourage parents to be proactive in warning their children of the potential dangers of these emerging products. These products have not been proven; the ingredients may not be fully listed; they may be laced with other more potent drugs; and we don’t know if they have addictive potential. There is also considerable concern from A and E Doctors with regard to possible associated health risks including metabolic problems, increased heart rate and palpitations and life threatening seizures. Like any drug they are dangerous if misused and counsellors are reporting that they are regularly providing the base ingredient for a ‘dangerous cocktail’ for our young people enabling them to stay awake longer, drink more alcohol and smoke more marijuana.

As a society we seem to be accommodating recreational drug use instead of educating our children about drug and alcohol related harm and inspiring them to think about their futures and the things that will stand in the way of them reaching their potential. As adults we also need to be modeling and helping young people discover that you can have an enormous amount of fun with out recreational drug use and feel a whole lot better the next day.”

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