Drugs and Addictive Substances

Effects on the Body

Piperazines like BZP and TFMPP are psytchostimulantsPronounced SY-koh-STIM-yew-lent; a stimulant that acts on the brain.. Because they affect the brain, the drugs cause a wide range of sensations and experiences. Sometimes these effects are considered pleasant by the user. Sometimes they are frightening. They can even be life threatening. Piperazines vary in their mind-altering properties. The drugs influence brain function by acting on chemicals called neurotransmitters, which can have profound effects on mood, learning, perceptions, and movement.

Animal research has shown that BZP triggers the release of neurotransmitters called dopaminePronounced DOPE-uh-meen; a combination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen that acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. and noepinephrinePronounced nor-epp-ih-NEFF-run; a natural stimulant produced by the human body., two natural stimulants that the body produces on its own. TFMPP acts by stimulating nerve receptors sensitive to serotoninA combination of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen; it is found in the brain, blood, and stomach lining and acts as a neurotransmitter and blood vessel regulator., another neurotransmitter.

At doses of 20 milligrams to 100 milligrams, BZP and TFMPP reportedly produce a range of mental experiences lasting six to eight hours. Amphetamine-like effects include euphoria, alertness, a reduced need for both food and sleep, a heightened sense of touch and other pleasurable sensations, and a sense of emotional closeness with others. At higher doses, though, users have reported stomach pain, vomiting, and feelings of extreme anxiety and paranoia. A tingling feeling on the surface of the skin may make users feel as if insects are crawling all over them. Some users end up in emergency rooms panic-stricken, screaming, and suffering from extreme dehydration.

BZP acts very much like amphetamines or speed. Amphetamines are illegal without a prescription from a medical doctor. They can make users jumpy, irritable, and even violent. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, "BZP is about 10 to 20 times less potent than amphetamine." However, just one or two BZP tablets can have extreme negative effects on the people who take them.

Like amphetamines, piperazines increase the heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature, which can be dangerous or even fatal. At high doses, piperazines may produce hallucinationsVisions or other perceptions of things that are not really present., convulsions, and slowed breathing that can result in death. The physical effects of piperazine use include nausea, vomiting, redness of the skin, stomach pains, thirst, dry mouth, frequent urination, bladder infection or irritation, severe headaches, and "hangover" feelings lasting up to two days. BZP and TFMPP also affect brain centers that control movement. Muscle stiffness, uncontrollable shaking, jaw clenching, and nervous tics may occur in users.

If BZP comes in contact with the eyes or skin, it can cause severe inflammation and burns. When inhaled, it irritates the respiratory tract, leaving the user with a sore throat, coughing fits, and difficulty breathing. Prolonged inhalation can cause chemical burns to the breathing tubes and the buildup of fluid in the lungs. When swallowed, piperazines are absorbed quickly through the linings of the stomach and intestines. Part of the drug is broken down by the actions of the liver and kidneys, and the rest is released from the body as urine.

Because piperazine abuse is relatively new among drug users, the harmful effects of BZP and TFMPP have not been fully determined. According to the Health and Safety Executive of the United Kingdom, piperazines are thought to have the potential to cause

Mixing drugs is very dangerous. Obtaining them illegally is also very risky. The quality and content of illegal drugs are not checked by any government or medical agency, so users never know what they are getting. Photo by Leitha Etheridge-Sims. Courtesy of Dan Newell.

asthma, although how this occurs is still unknown. The effects in children and pregnant women also remain unknown.

Former speed addicts who took BZP experienced an increase in blood pressure and short-term mental experiences similar to those brought on by amphetamines. These data suggested that BZP was likely to be addictive and abused. Results of experiments conducted on rhesus monkeys, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence in 2005, confirmed that BZP is as addicting as amphetamines. TFMPP taken alone, however, was not considered likely to be abused. Other animal experiments suggest that the use of piperazines can actually inhibit learning.