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Energy Tonics – the 'new generation' party pills
Tuesday, 31 March 2009.
Originally from express article 3 June 2008
By Di from Auckland Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS)
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| Diana Rands from CADS. |
Well, 1st April 2008 saw legislation that made BZP (the active ingredient in Party Pills) a class C drug come into effect – and folks it was not an April fools joke!
It came as no surprise, as changes to the legal status of BZP has been on the cards for a couple of years. The merits of making BZP illegal have been rigorously debated – but in the end some would say, politics got in the way of common sense and a hammer was used to crack a peanut...
Now of course the clever people who in the past manufactured party pills have been busy wee beavers, and they have come up with Energy Tonics!
The man behind the original party pills is Matt Bowden. When I contacted him he was very careful to clarify that energy tonics are NOT party pills, and they mostly contain a substance he has formulated and trade marked FLORADRENE™. He tells me that Floradrene is 'a blend of ingredients which are synthetic reproductions of naturally occurring compounds'. Included in these ingredients are Hamelia Patens, Pelargonium Graveolens, Polygonum multiflorum, Paulina Cupana, Citrus Aurantium, and Amino Acids.
From what I can find out, these are a mix of tonic type substances and stimulant type substances – sounds right for dancing the night away. The main difference is that instead of including ephedrine they have replaced it with citrus aurantium containing synephrine which is also a stimulant. It will keep you energised and awake for 4-6 hours.
As stated in that revered source of information Wikipedia:
"Synephrine (or oxedrine) is a drug aimed at encouraging fat loss. While its effectiveness is widely debated, synephrine has gained significant popularity as an alternative to ephedrine, a related substance which has been made illegal or restricted in many countries due to concerns about potential problems with heart disease risk and its use in methamphetamine manufacture. Synephrine is derived primarily from the fruit of Citrus aurantium, a relatively small citrus tree, of which several of its more common names include Bitter Orange, Sour Orange, and Zhi shi."
(copied from Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia)
Matt told me that these ingredients have previously been used in weight loss, gymnasium supplements and energy drinks. He said that energy tonic users find that they get tingles and stamina from them, as they work on adrenalin systems. He goes on to say they are different to party pills which can be more trippy and which can keep you awake for days if you take too many. Energy tonics won’t do that – but they can make some people sick. Although he said most people will find they don’t have the hangover that they got from BZP.
So how do we reduce any potential harm from using these energy tonics?
Well as we all know it is always advisable with any new drug to take half (a pill) then wait a couple of hours before taking the second half, and avoid mixing with alcohol. Always read the labels and follow the recommendations!
Brands include HUMMER, VEGAS NIGHTS, or COMET.
If you have concerns about your own or someone else's alcohol or other drug use, or you’re concerned about someone else contact CADS on 845 1818 or www.cads.org.nz. If you live outside Auckland contact Alcohol and Drug Helpline 0800 787 797.
> More items from Di's Drug Column
