"It is our responsibility to protect the European citizens from such hazardous psychotropic substances as Bzp": the deputy president Franco Frattini explains the purposes of a provision passed today by the EU Commission against the spreading of psychotropic substances across the European Union. The European Commission has decided to ask the EU Council to "introduce measures for inspections and criminal punishments for the psychotropic substance 1-benzyl piperazine (Bzp)". This comes at the end "of a process of risk assessment on psychotropic substances by the European Observatory for Drugs and Drug-Addictions", which showed "potential health disorders associated with the use" of such substance, "although its long-term effects are not known yet". Bzp is a "stimulant of the central nervous system", which is even less powerful than amphetamines. "In addition to the risks inherent in any substance that may cause tachycardia, hypertension and hyperactivity", benzyl piperazine "can cause other disorders" and "side effects, such as vomiting, headache, lack of appetite, anxiety, sleeplessness". Experts from the EU Agency explain that "it is sold for recreational use in tablets and capsule on the web or in herbal shops" as powder, capsules or tablets.
