|
Anno
Experimenter
Registered: 06/17/99
Posts: 24,166
Loc: my room
Last seen: 9 days, 17 hours
|
Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills
#3377503 - 11/18/04 01:48 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3096007a7144,00.html
Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills 15 November 2004
Christchurch emergency doctors are warning partygoers of the dangers of "herbal high" pills as an increasing number of sick revellers fill hospital beds.
Christchurch Hospital's emergency department is seeing at least six patients a weekend suffering from severe paranoia and dehydration after taking the apparently safe herbal drugs.
Emergency medicine specialist Dr Martin Than said yesterday that party-goers were arriving at the hospital hysterical and requiring sedation.
The herbal pills are legal and have a mild hallucinogenic-amphetamine effect, similar to that of illegal drugs such as P, speed and ecstasy.
All are sold over the counter and are advertised as a safe, legal alternative to illegal highs.
"One girl that we had in here today said she was just handed a plastic bag with the pills in it ? no warnings, no labels, nothing," Dr Than said.
The active drug in the pills, commonly known as herbal ecstasy or herbal speed, is benzylpiperazine.
It typically causes euphoria but can result in agitation, vomiting, abdominal pain, seizures and abnormal heart rhythms.
In rare cases, users may suffer from serotonin syndrome, which can cause death.
Dr Than said the public needed to be educated on the dangers of herbal highs.
"There is a public perception that these are a safe and harmless way to have fun, but it's important for the public to know that the side-effects can be very serious," he said.
Christchurch Hospital staff said those affected were usually young women in their late teens or early 20s.
"The classic case is a teenage girl coming in here at one or two o'clock in the morning, hysterical and screaming. . . I guess they think it's safe and they'll be fine, but the reality is they are still taking a very strong drug," one doctor said.
Most patients said they took only one or two tablets and were stunned at the effect the herbal pills had had on them.
Politicians and drug educators last week moved to have herbal highs classified under a proposed new drug category. That could mean possible age restrictions on sales and better warning labels on packets.
Drug Foundation executive director Ross Bell said last night that the pills lured users into a false sense of security, and his organisation supported the establishment of a fourth drug classification.
Under proposed changes put to Parliament last week, a fourth drug category would be added to the present A, B and C classifications. The D category would encompass herbal pills.
"The Drug Expert Advisory Committee have decided there is no evidence that herbal drugs should be classed in the A, B or C categories but they have recommended a fourth class to put these herbal highs into. . .This would provide an opportunity to put controls around labelling and age limits on sale," Mr Bell said.
|
dr_gonz
Registered: 08/18/03
Posts: 44,654
|
. [Re: Anno]
#3377635 - 11/18/04 03:14 AM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
.
|
Hans_Moleman
????
Registered: 04/06/03
Posts: 3,676
Loc: Canadia
Last seen: 16 years, 5 months
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: dr_gonz]
#3384509 - 11/19/04 01:40 PM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
"The active drug in the pills, commonly known as herbal ecstasy or herbal speed, is benzylpiperazine"
-------------------- One of the reasons marijuana is illegal today because growers in the 30s lobbied against hemp farmers -- they saw it as competition, because It is not chemically addictive as is nicotine, alcohol, or caffeine.
|
koppie
astral projectile
Registered: 07/23/04
Posts: 2,653
Loc: cloud hidden
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: Hans_Moleman]
#3384946 - 11/19/04 03:07 PM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Anyone know why these are called "herbal"? Reading up on it on erowid's BZP vault, gives me the impression that this is a purely synthetic compound.
|
derx
who run it
Registered: 05/29/03
Posts: 2,459
Loc: dx/dt
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: koppie]
#3385732 - 11/19/04 05:58 PM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
how is it a legal pill if it contains benzylpiperazine, which is a scheduled class 1 drug
-------------------- better living through chemistry OVERGROW the government!! it's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom, ok, thats what it is.
|
Catalysis
EtherealEngineer
Registered: 04/23/02
Posts: 1,742
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: derx]
#3385807 - 11/19/04 06:13 PM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
The alkaloid containing plant is probably not banned because the government didnt think anyone would be stupid enough to eat it.
|
blink
eye of horus
Registered: 03/31/02
Posts: 11,349
Loc: Geographic Location (Stat...
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: Catalysis]
#3386100 - 11/19/04 07:20 PM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
what plant contains BZP? or for that matter any piperazine...
--------------------
|
MovingTarget
Registered: 10/04/04
Posts: 4,825
Loc: temporary
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: blink]
#3386342 - 11/19/04 08:12 PM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
i tried these pills several years ago and was pissed cause of no reaction, and i've a low tolerance to shrooms
--------------------
|
derx
who run it
Registered: 05/29/03
Posts: 2,459
Loc: dx/dt
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: blink]
#3386436 - 11/19/04 08:34 PM (19 years, 4 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
blinkidiot said: what plant contains BZP? or for that matter any piperazine...
to my knowledge the substance is chemically synthesised.
-------------------- better living through chemistry OVERGROW the government!! it's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom, ok, thats what it is.
|
World Spirit
PNW
Registered: 07/27/01
Posts: 9,817
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: derx]
#3390714 - 11/20/04 08:23 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
I have read that most if not all of these mysterious, unlabelled herbal highs are nothing more than a combination of normal herbs that are machine-pressed with a combination of extracts - sythetic and semi-synthetic. I think its foolish for anyone to put something like this in their body when they don't know who made it, what herbs they are, what's pressed or sprayed on these herbs, their potential side effects, etc...
This is yet another harmful way for society to misunderstand what real herbs can do for people.
|
derx
who run it
Registered: 05/29/03
Posts: 2,459
Loc: dx/dt
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: World Spirit]
#3392918 - 11/21/04 12:13 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
just goes to show how harmful cannabis is compared to other legal substances.
-------------------- better living through chemistry OVERGROW the government!! it's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom, ok, thats what it is.
|
MovingTarget
Registered: 10/04/04
Posts: 4,825
Loc: temporary
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: derx]
#3392928 - 11/21/04 12:18 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
logic apparently has nothing to do with the legality of drugs
--------------------
|
Fungi_x
Firekeeper of OTD
Registered: 08/17/03
Posts: 8,960
Loc: Michigan
Last seen: 3 years, 4 months
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: MovingTarget]
#3393578 - 11/21/04 04:29 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Politics have every thing to do with most drug laws.
"In rare cases, users may suffer from serotonin syndrome, which can cause death."
How many have there been from these herbal pills? I bet not a single one
|
derx
who run it
Registered: 05/29/03
Posts: 2,459
Loc: dx/dt
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: Fungi_x]
#3394854 - 11/21/04 09:31 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
right right.... i forgot, it doesn't matter what kills(alcohol,herbals), it's what is "bad for society."
-------------------- better living through chemistry OVERGROW the government!! it's not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom, ok, thats what it is.
|
st0nedphucker
Rogue State
Registered: 04/17/03
Posts: 1,047
Loc: Wales (yes it is a countr...
Last seen: 15 years, 8 months
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: derx]
#3397795 - 11/23/04 10:28 AM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
New Zealand # BZP sales restricted by age of purchaser, NZ's Health Department is experimenting with a novel status for the stimulant BZP as a way to combat methamphetamine addiction and prevalence at dance parties. (See Non-traditional Designer Substances: A new category of psychoactives in New Zealand, May 2004)
-------------------- The punishment which the wise suffer, who refuse to take part in government, is to live under the government of worse men.
|
Psilostylin
Captain Save Em'
Registered: 03/13/04
Posts: 678
Loc: New Orleans!
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: st0nedphucker]
#3399832 - 11/23/04 06:09 PM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
i've never had those pills. they all look so foolish and yes, i agree, things like this are giving a bad name to other well known herbs out there.
|
spudamore
Stranger
Registered: 06/12/03
Posts: 1,460
Loc: Australia
|
Re: Doctors warn of dangers of 'herbal high' pills [Re: Psilostylin]
#3441004 - 12/03/04 04:26 AM (19 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
i have had some when i was in wellington, NZ. my sister worked for a gym that owned a few other biz and the other biz made the pills. which now have been taken off the shelves because of people having severe heart pulpitations. it was pretty speedy but woke up with a killer headache and felt like shit so its not really worth it.
-------------------- suicide a permanent solution to a temporary problem
|
|