Benzylpiperazine/Trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine - Overview
Overview
Chemicals known as piperazines are used for industrial purposes worldwide. A basic piperazine can be changed into a variety of different substances simply by adding different chemical groups to the original compound. For instance, a drug called piperazine citrate destroys intestinal worms, making it useful in the treatment of parasitic infections in both humans and animals. Parasites are organisms that must live with, in, or on other organisms to survive.
Other medicinal and mind-altering qualities of piperazines are being studied as possible treatments for:
- Depression, a mood disorder that causes people to have feelings of hopelessness, loss of pleasure, self-blame, and sometimes suicidal thoughts.
- Psychosis (pronounced sy-KOH-sis), a severe mental disorder that often causes hallucinations and makes it difficult for people to distinguish what is real from what is imagined.
- Alzheimer's disease, a brain disease that usually strikes older individuals and results in memory loss, impaired thinking, and personality changes; symptoms worsen over time.
- Tumors.
BZP and TFMPP are piperazine stimulants. They stimulate the brain, creating hallucinogenicA substance that brings on hallucinations, which alter the user's perception of reality. experiences in some users. Both drugs have been compared to amphetaminesPronounced am-FETT-uh-meens; stimulant drugs that increase mental alertness, reduce appetite, and help keep users awake.. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, "the amphetamine-like stimulant
effects of BZP" seem to "attract the attention of drug abusers." The effects of piperazine abuse can be unpredictable. Some users report feelings of relaxation, happiness, and increased closeness with others after taking BZP and TFMPP. However, others describe their experiences with these drugs as frightening and extremely unpleasant. BZP seems to be more commonly abused than TFMPP, probably because there is a greater supply of it available for purchase. Most users of TFMPP prefer to combine it with the club drug ecstasy (MDMA).
Until March of 2004, piperazines were considered legal in the United States. Piperazines sold in bulk over the Internet made their way to the club and raveOvernight dance parties that typically involve huge crowds of people, loud techno music, and illegal drug use. scene. They grew in popularity among adolescents and young adults, sometimes being sold as the dangerous and often-abused drug ecstasy but usually as "BZP," "legal E," "legal X," or "A2." The dangers of BZP and TFMPP stem from their stimulant effects. Rapid heart rhythms, tremors, and convulsions have been reported in some cases.
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