Iain Hickling, manager of Cosmic Corner in Cuba St, Wellington, displays a range of wares his store sells young party-goers.

Iain Hickling, manager of Cosmic Corner in Cuba St, Wellington, displays a range of wares his store sells young party-goers.

By CHRIS ORMOND

Three South Islanders took some herbal party pills earlier this year and headed from Christchurch down to Dunedin.

For two days they lost track of where they were. One turned up in a stranger's house, convinced he was at his mate's place in Mosgiel.

In Wellington, the pills - with names such as Rapture, Charge and Blast - have been sold from carts on city streets late at night.

Now they are advertised on radio, with the young and trendy being told they will keep them dancing all night.

Retailers say they are harmless but dodgy dealers are hurting a self-regulated industry. A Dunedin police drug squad head wants them banned altogether and politicians say they are working on it.

The pills contain benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluromethylphenylpiperazine - chemicals banned in the United States and in some Australian states, but legal in New Zealand.

Opponents of the pills want legislation introduced that effectively bans piperazines, while others want to see rules introduced to tightly regulate their manufacture and sale.

So far, the Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs has resisted recommending a ban after failing to find verifiable reasons to do so.

Support for the pills is lead by the Social Tonic Association of New Zealand (Stanz), established this year, which has set up a code of practice for those selling the pills. It is in effect a self-governing body but affiliation is voluntary.

The general manager of Cosmic, a Stanz member that runs stores in the four main cities, staves off criticism of the product. Murray Muir says he takes a responsible approach to selling the pills.

Unfortunately, not all sellers of the pills adhere to the Stanz guidelines, and some questionable outfits have entered the market recently, he says.

Products are being sold both unlabelled and with levels of BZP up to several times higher than recommended.

Getting access to BZP in bulk is not difficult, he says.

Mr Muir defends his motives for selling the pills.

"They're safe provided you follow the instructions. It's like any product - if you abuse it you can get adverse effects.

"We see ourselves as responsible and reputable and most of industry is. Some want to work outside the guidelines and unfortunately we can't control that."