Curran welcomes banning of benzylpiperazine (BZP)

John Curran T.D. Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy welcomed the Government decision to ban benzylpiperazine (BZP). This arose from an EU Council Decision which defined BZP as a new psychoactive substance made subject to control measures and criminal provisions

Benzylpiperazine (BZP) is a synthetic psychotropic (mood affecting) substance, which can cause elevated heartbeat, raised blood pressure, agitation and hyperactivity. BZP may be sold as ecstasy under the street name of ‘Legal E', ‘Legal X' ‘XTC', ‘A2' , ‘piperazine', or ‘party pills'.
"I very much welcome the inclusion of BZP as a controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act. BZP is a mood affecting substance, which is a recognised risk to health and has no medicinal benefit. I am concerned about other substances on sale, sometimes known as ‘legal highs', and in the coming months I will be assessing the need for controls on these products."
Minister Curran added: "The expert advice available to me suggests that some of these products are a gateway into further drug use and potential addiction. I am determined to tackle this issue of these dangerous substances being on sale and available to our young people in particular."