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The man who developed party pills says there should be greater restrictions on their sale.
In June last year it became illegal to sell pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) to anyone under the age of 18.
Some would like to see them banned outright.
Matt Bowden, who created the pills, says they were meant to be taken by people who are trying to stop using methamphetamine.
He says party pills should only be available from outlets where there is an alcohol and drug clinician on site, and there should be a limit on the number of pills that can be purchased in one transaction.
Recent research suggests as many as one in five New Zealanders have tried legal party pills despite no hard evidence to prove they are safe for human consumption.
The Social Tonics Association of New Zealand, which represents the majority of manufacturers, distributors and retailers of party pills, says in excess of 20 million party pills have been sold in New Zealand over the past five years.
Bowden says those who are ending up in the Emergency Department after taking party pills have generally been consuming far too many pills or have combined them with alcohol or illicit drugs.
Toxicity study
A study of human toxicity related to the use of BZP-based party pills was conducted at Christchurch Hospital last year.
During a five month period, 61 patients presented to the Emergency Department on 80 occasions.
In 65 cases they had taken other substances along with party pills - alcohol, marijuana, nitrous oxide or illicit drugs.
Mild to moderate symptoms included insomnia, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and palpitations. Fifteen toxic seizures were recorded and two patients suffered life-threatening toxicity.
