Benzylpiperizine-based party pills' impact on the Auckland City Hospital Emergency Department Overdose Database (2002-2004) compared with ecstasy (MDMA or methylene dioxymethamphetamine), gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), amphetamines, cocaine, and alcohol.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the impact of 'party pills' (PP; herbal highs) on the Auckland City Hospital Emergency Department Overdose Database 2002-2004, and to present figures for five other substances in that database.


METHODS
Auckland City Hospital's Emergency Department's overdose database was reviewed for 2002, 2003, and 2004 for 'herbal ingestions' and 'party pills' (PP), ecstasy, methamphetamine, GHB, cocaine, and alcohol. Adverse effects attributed to PP were examined.


RESULTS
In 2002, 1 patient presented with PP ingestion; 4 presented in 2003 and 21 in 2004 respectively (p<0.001). Of these 21 patients in 2004, 5 had allegedly ingested PP only and none required medical admission. PP only contributed to 1.58% of the overdose database for 2004.


CONCLUSIONS
'Party pills' appeared to have a minor impact on the overdose database at Auckland City Hospital between 2002 and 2004. There was a significant decrease in GHB presentations from 2003 to 2004 (p<0.001), but no significant fall in stimulant overdose presentations.
Theron
Lynn
L
Emergency Department, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland. ltheron@adhb.govt.nz
Jansen
Karl
K
Miles
Jennifer
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000662:Amphetamines / Q000009:adverse effects; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D019992:Databases as Topic; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D009520:New Zealand; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects; D012978:Sodium Oxybate / Q000009:adverse effects
D000662:Amphetamines; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D010879:Piperazines; D000431:Ethanol; D012978:Sodium Oxybate; D003042:Cocaine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine