New-type party pills fill hospital beds

An emergency department doctor wants action over new generation party pills that cause people to be admitted to hospital.

Wellington Hospital emergency doctor Paul Quigley told The Dominion Post four or five people would be admitted to hospital at weekends after taking the pills.

"We're getting semi-hysterical type reactions," he said, with other symptoms including insomnia and vomiting.

The new generation pills have been marketed after pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) were banned from April 1.

Medical Research Institute of New Zealand director Richard Beasley the jump in admissions was of concern.

It was a case of deja vu - "another adverse experience with products being brought in without being tested".

The Health Ministry is having the new type of pills tested by Environmental Science and Research and hopes to have the results soon.

Drug Foundation director Ross Bell said the situation was dangerous.

"We don't know what's in them so it's impossible for us to get information out there. These things have no age restrictions; they can be sold anywhere to anyone."

Health Minister Jim Anderton, who pushed for reform, has said a "regrettable flaw" in the legal system allowed suppliers to sell pills without having to prove their safety.

BZP and six similar substances used to make the original party pills were made class C drugs - the same as cannabis - under last month's law change.