Party's over for dangerous drugs

By MONIQUE DEVEREUX

Party drugs such as Fantasy and One4b are to be outlawed but the penalty for carrying or using them has yet to be decided.

The Expert Advisory Committee on Drugs, set up last year to respond more quickly to emerging drug threats, has agreed that the party substances are dangerous and should be made illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A decision on whether the drugs will be scheduled as class A, B or C will be made by the end of next month.

Police, medical specialists and the mother of Shawn Brenner, who died after taking Fantasy in April, all want the party drugs to be given a classification of at least B - drugs that have a high risk of causing harm.

Offences involving class B drugs carry a penalty of up to 14 years' imprisonment.

Other class B drugs include speed, Ecstasy and cannabis oil.

Class A includes LSD, heroin and cocaine, and the maximum sentence for an offence is life imprisonment.

Carol Brenner made a submission to the committee about the dangers of Fantasy in May, a month after her son died.

Mr Brenner, a 22-year-old engineering student, was the first fatality from Fantasy or related drugs in New Zealand, although Auckland Hospital treats up to 10 people a weekend for its effects.

Yesterday, Mrs Brenner said she was pleased the drug would be classified and hoped the committee would make it at least class B.

"Class C would be too low. That's the same as marijuana and you don't die from that."

Auckland Hospital intensive care specialist Dr Les Galler has long advocated banning the party drugs.

He and another doctor spoke out last January in reaction to the growing number of people they were treating who had been rendered unconscious by the party drugs.

Yesterday, he said drugs such as Fantasy caused many more hospital admissions than Ecstasy or LSD.

Police are also hoping for a high classification of the drugs.

Detective Sergeant Tony Quayle, of the National Drug Intelligence Bureau, said he would like to see Fantasy and One4b scheduled as "at least class B."

But Mark Barlow, who owns the company that distributed One4b, said making his product illegal was "a pointless exercise that I have no qualms about challenging."

One4b had health benefits and if taken properly - in small, measured doses - could safely generate bouts of euphoria, he said.

Mr Barlow also made a submission to the drug committee and was disappointed to hear it had decided to outlaw the substance.

"It's not going to stop me taking it, that's for certain."

The Ministry of Health this week laid 16 more charges under the Food Act against James McNee, a Timaru man who formerly packaged One4b.

Mr McNee already faced charges alleging that he sold and packaged a food that was injurious or harmful to health, and unfit for human consumption.