Party pills BANNED!

[inlinefour]

Ok wolf, you like to drink coffee to stay awake. Did you know coffee is a narcotic beverage and caffeine belongs to the same alkaloid group of chemicals as morphine, cocaine and strychnine and is addictive.

Adverse effects of coffee include insomnia and disruption of sleep patterns; tremors, nervousness, restlessness, and irritability; headaches; elevation of blood fatty acid levels; elevation of blood pressure and/or serum cholesterol levels; irregular heartbeats and palpitations, and increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia and heart attack; increased gastric acid production & aggravation of peptic ulcers; increased heartburn; increased symptoms of PMS; increased risk of bladder and rectal cancer; higher risk of the birth of a low-birth-weight child; and increased urinary calcium losses.

It may alarm you that this drug is freely available at every dairy and supermarket, for next to no cost! Surely we should ban this psychoactive drug ?

My point is that drinking coffee has its health risks, be they large or small, same as most other activities people do for recreation (like riding bikes).

Just because your recreational drug of choice (coffee alcohol or nicotine) isnt BZP doesnt mean others should have to live by your code.

Legal products being sold in shops can be regulated so that consumers know what they are buying, and kids cant get hold of it. The consumers can also be educated on the potential risks and side effects of the product. Then people can make educated decisions on how they want to live their lives. To me this sounds better than paying to put people in jail cos they got caught with BZP.

Hear what your saying, but what a oad of farking bolllocks boy!!! The main reason why they are now illegal is probably because of the financial strain they place on the healthcare system and other associated departments...

[Zapf]

Hear what your saying, but what a oad of farking bolllocks boy!!! The main reason why they are now illegal is probably because of the financial strain they place on the healthcare system and other associated departments...

LOL, ant that the truth. Its when they hear the sound of the dollar then they react. I think we all have an idea who "they" is.

now lets move onto the cost of Alcho and etc..

The government is always so short sighted and never looks or plans for the future.

[inlinefour]

LOL, ant that the truth. Its when they hear the sound of the dollar then they react. I think we all have an idea who "they" is.

now lets move onto the cost of Alcho and etc..

The government is always so short sighted and never looks or plans for the future.

Once again it all doils down to the dollar. The gubbermint makes so much taxes that both will alcohol never become illegal or will the buying age ever be brought back up to what it was. The mout in which they put into helthcare is far less than the revenue that is being generated from alcohol sales.

[scumdog]

I respect the fact that you think they're bad so you won't have them, but couldn't you agree that people should have the choice?
Wouldn't it be a better idea to ban things like alcohol or tobacco, which kill so many of us each year.. as opposed to party pills? (of which no one in NZ has died from)
Unfortunately too many people with your mindset are the ones setting the policies.

I for one would not give a fat-rats arse if all booze and tobacco vanished from this earth as long as the other 'recreational' drugs went too.

The only reason booze etc are worse than the others is that they are readily available,cheap and advertised to the max.

Give 'em choice? Gimme a break - people need to be protected from some choices ("Oi, I want the choice to decide if I AM too pissed to ride" "I want the choice as to what speed i can ride at" etc).

[avgas]

Any live on "No Dose" while studying?

[Wolf]

Smells like bullshit.

Believe as you like. The information is readily available.

Unfortunately too many people with your mindset are the ones setting the policies.

I didn't say I agreed with the banning, I just said I didn't care if they were and opined that those who need to take pills to help them party are too square or wimpy to party.

Not a lot that can be done (aside from mind-altering drugs, I suppose) to assist those who are just inherently uncool and socially inept, but those who use the pills for staying power need to HARDEN THE FUCK UP and cope with the fact that parties can last a while.

Or come to terms with getting their eyebrows shaved off if they pike out halfway through...

[eHonda]

Hear what your saying, but what a oad of farking bolllocks boy!!! The main reason why they are now illegal is probably because of the financial strain they place on the healthcare system and other associated departments...

I think its more to do with politicians wanting to get votes by using the old "tough on drugs" card. If it was simply about money then they would just tax the pills.

The only reason booze etc are worse than the others is that they are readily available,cheap and advertised to the max.

I dont think so, BZP is cheap, available and avdertised a lot. The effect of BZP however doesnt make people act like cavemen, like alcohol does. Nicotine is bad cause it is extremely addictive and causes people to die early.

Give 'em choice? Gimme a break - people need to be protected from some choices ("Oi, I want the choice to decide if I AM too pissed to ride" "I want the choice as to what speed i can ride at" etc).

Both those choices have have a good possibility of harming others. The choice of taking party pills has no bad effects on the health and safety of others.

Interesting facts

1. Well over 20 million pills containing BZP have been consumed in New Zealand with no available record attributing deaths or lasting injuries to a single ingestion of BZP.
   
2. A retrospective study carried out at an Auckland emergency department found that BZP presentations only made a minor contribution to their overdose database with most cases not producing any significant toxicity.
   
3. 45.2% of people who reported using both BZP and illegal drugs such as methamphetamine reported that they used BZP so that they did not have to use methamphetamine, which was perceived as more harmful.

20 million pills consumed. If you take away BZP people are not going to stop taking drugs on the weekend - they are just going to switch to alcohol, illegally made bzp from drug dealers, or some other drug(s).

[inlinefour]

I think its more to do with politicians wanting to get votes by using the old "tough on drugs" card. If it was simply about money then they would just tax the pills.



I dont think so, BZP is cheap, available and avdertised a lot. The effect of BZP however doesnt make people act like cavemen, like alcohol does. Nicotine is bad cause it is extremely addictive and causes people to die early.



Both those choices have have a good possibility of harming others. The choice of taking party pills has no bad effects on the health and safety of others.

Interesting facts

1. Well over 20 million pills containing BZP have been consumed in New Zealand with no available record attributing deaths or lasting injuries to a single ingestion of BZP.
   
2. A retrospective study carried out at an Auckland emergency department found that BZP presentations only made a minor contribution to their overdose database with most cases not producing any significant toxicity.
   
3. 45.2% of people who reported using both BZP and illegal drugs such as methamphetamine reported that they used BZP so that they did not have to use methamphetamine, which was perceived as more harmful.

20 million pills consumed. If you take away BZP people are not going to stop taking drugs on the weekend - they are just going to switch to alcohol, illegally made bzp from drug dealers, or some other drug(s).

The gubbermint is looking at spending the least amount possible, not wanting wanky votes like you suggested. The revenue gathered on pills will be far less than what is being spent on dealing with the aftermath.
Now the interesting thing about research and yes I am speaking from experience as I have done alot of research through my qualifications. Is that research can be manufactured to produce a desired outcome to benefit an organisation one way or another. I'm very hesitant in putting much weight on any form of research as often is has been indirectly done for the benefit of the drug manufacturer. I'm sure there is ample research that will contradict what is quoted above. In my opinion, applying simple common sense is generally the best way to deal with an issue or issues. The common sense regarding the party pills is that they are doing alot of damage to many of the users. Just because you have used them and had nil undesired outcomes does not make them safe. Although if your a muppet and insist on continued useage, the chances are that eventually it will bite you in the arse and you'll have to admit that they are infact a problem. That is, if you are able to be honest with yourself, let alone others.

[scumdog]

I.
[*]45.2% of people who reported using both BZP and illegal drugs such as methamphetamine reported that they used BZP so that they did not have to use methamphetamine, which was perceived as more harmful.[/LIST]

20 million pills consumed. If you take away BZP people are not going to stop taking drugs on the weekend - they are just going to switch to alcohol, illegally made bzp from drug dealers, or some other drug(s).

Then 45.2% people have a sadly sorry life - "I took BZP 'cos I didn't want to have to use 'P'" - sigh, Lord gimme strength!!!!!!!!!

"Illegally made BZP from drug dealers"? mhahahaha, like the stuff made by NON drug dealers is so high in quality and pure etc??

Right up there with statements like 'Natural High' in the accuracy stakes.

The big thing not made so known is that a lot of kids have got into shit (medically and legally) by using booze AND party-pills - but the stigma (even though they're legal) of party pills tends to make them not admit to having used them - "oh yeah, musta had too much piss eh" is the normal comment when asking them why they have just behaved in a rather 'unruly' manner.

[Hitcher]

Interesting facts

1. Well over 20 million pills containing BZP have been consumed in New Zealand with no available record attributing deaths or lasting injuries to a single ingestion of BZP.
   
2. A retrospective study carried out at an Auckland emergency department found that BZP presentations only made a minor contribution to their overdose database with most cases not producing any significant toxicity.
   
3. 45.2% of people who reported using both BZP and illegal drugs such as methamphetamine reported that they used BZP so that they did not have to use methamphetamine, which was perceived as more harmful.

20 million pills consumed. If you take away BZP people are not going to stop taking drugs on the weekend - they are just going to switch to alcohol, illegally made bzp from drug dealers, or some other drug(s).

Facts? Rather a liberal interpretation of that word, methinks. And even dodgier "interpretation" of them too. A bit like people advocating the use of foam-rubber bullets because they were less likely to result in death for persons considering self-harm.

Ask yourself one question: "What social benefits accrue from party pills?"

If the only answer you can come up with is that they prevent people from using P or harder drugs, then I suggest you really do need to try harder.

[slowpoke]

Lets cut to the bottom line here fella's...we must ban BZP if for no other reason than to supposedly force young women into harder drugs and therefore improve the stocks of strippers around the country.

So there's your choice: BZP or bewbies.....seems like an easy choice to me!

[eHonda]

Heres an analogy with motorcycling.

Why should we allow people to ride motorcycles on the road when it is clearly not safe. People can all just drive cars and be much safer. Sure riders get a "high" from driving them, but at what cost. Your more likely to crash, and the effects of a crash are much worse than if they had been driving in a car.

Why do we do it. Because we understand the risks, and choose to do it anyway and because it is a "free country". The government recognises that there are a lot of motorcycles in the world and that its going to be impossible to stop people riding them, so they regulate the use of them to limit the harm caused by the use of them. They dont recommend that people ride them though. They make users licence themselves and the bikes, make sure the bikes are fit to be ridden, and put laws into how people are allowed to ride them. They collects taxes off the riders to pay for the inevitable health costs which occur when people fall off.

Now substitute motorcycle riding for taking BZP, and you swap the risks from losing your body parts/life to losing your mind/life, both of which are at the extreme end and both are fairly uncommon. You swap quality controls on the bike/rider for controls on the quality of the pills, who can buy them, and advertising on the risks and precautions which should be followed. You swap Hostpitals and physio for people coming off motorcycles - paid for by their own taxes, for hostpital visits for people who get hurt by the pills - paid for by a special tax on the pills.

Both groups of people pay collectively for the harm that their chosen activity occasionally results in. Just because your thing isnt popping pills, doesnt mean you have to go turn people who are into criminals. There is a cost with making them illegal also, paying for extra people to go through the justice system isnt cheap.

By the way Im not describing the state of the system as it is now with BZP, rather how I think it should be. At the moment it is "self regulated" with no government taxes or regulation. The government had the choice of regulation or prohibition, I think they made the wrong choice.

[Steam]

H
Why should we allow people to ride motorcycles on the road when it is clearly not safe. People can all just drive cars and be much safer. Sure riders get a "high" from driving them, but at what cost. Your more likely to crash, and the effects of a crash are much worse than if they had been driving in a car.

Very true, good analogy. And the side-effects of taking the motorcycle pill / mainlining petrol / snorting the ride are worse too, you end up spending tens of thousands to support your 'habit', obsessing, cleaning, getting horribly injured, sometimes overdosing and dying.

[Hitcher]

If I didn't ride a bike I'd probably want to kill myself in a car. Or, god forbid, something heavier, like an Abrams M1A1.

[inlinefour]

Heres an analogy with motorcycling.
.

Anal maybe, might be time for you to zip it boy, cause your really starting to make yourself look like a [insert word here].