In New Zealand, budding ravers without drug connections can buy "party pills" containing BZP, a stimulant that is legal in that country. However, unsuspecting party pill poppers are apparently getting more than they bargained for:
Keith Bedford, ESR forensic programme manager, added: "Tests conducted by ESR scientists have quite clearly shown that two of the more common 'ecstasy-type' pills being distributed in the party drug scene contain methamphetamine and MDMA plus other potentially harmful, illicit active ingredients.
"The tests have also revealed pills that contained BZP plus a variety of other ingredients including MDMA and other harmful illicit active ingredients".
The story claims that at least one individual was hospitalized after taking "unknown pills," presumably unknown party pills with a shady pedigree. It seems like a screed designed to warn people away from taking BZP at all, the premise being that unless you happen to have the ability to test your own party pills before taking them, you'd better not take them at all because, of course, you might die.
But the scare tactics have a kernal of truth to them:
Mr van der Velde also issued a warning about the potential health risks of taking pills when they cannot be sure of the substances they contain.
That's definitely true, as disappointing as it may be to those sitting on a big pile of party pills.
