August 2007 DEA/OD/ODE

N-Benzylpiperazine (BZP) was first synthesized in 1944 as a potential antiparasitic agent. It was subsequently shown to possess antidepressant activity and amphetamine-like effects, but was not developed for marketing. The amphetamine-like effects of BZP attracted the attention of drug abusers. Since 1996, BZP has been abused by drug abusers; as evidenced by the encounters of this substance by law enforcement officials in various states and the District of Columbia. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) placed BZP in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) because of its high abuse potential and lack of accepted medical use or safety.

BZP is used as an intermediate in chemical synthesis. It has no known medical use in the United States.

BZP is an N-monosubstituted piperazine derivative available as either base or the hydrochloride salt. The base form is a slightly yellowish-green liquid. The hydrochloride salt is a white solid. BZP base is corrosive and causes burns. The salt form of BZP is an irritant to eyes, respiratory system and skin.

Both animal studies and human clinical studies have demonstrated that the pharmacological effects of BZP are qualitatively similar to those of amphetamine. BZP has been reported to be similar to amphetamine in its effects on chemical transmission in brain. BZP fully mimics discriminative stimulus effects of amphetamine in animals. BZP is self-administered by monkeys indicating reinforcing effects. Subjective effects of BZP were amphetamine-like in drug-naive volunteers and in volunteers with a history of stimulant dependence. BZP acts as a stimulant in humans and produces euphoria and cardiovascular effects, namely increases in heart rate and systolic blood pressure. BZP is about 10 to 20 times less potent than amphetamine in producing these effects. Experimental studies demonstrate that the abuse, dependence potential, pharmacology and toxicology of BZP are similar to those of amphetamine. Public health risks of BZP are similar to those of amphetamine.

BZP is often taken in combination with 1-[3-(trifluoro-methyl)phenyl]piperazine (TFMPP), a noncontrolled substance, in order to enhance its spectrum of effects and has been promoted to youth population as substitute for MDMA at raves (all-night dance parties). It may also be abused alone for its stimulant effects. BZP is generally administered orally as either powder or tablets and capsules. Other routes of administration included smoking and snorting. In 2001, a report from University in Zurich, Switzerland described the death of a young female which was attributed to the combined use of BZP and MDMA.

Youth and young adults are the main abusers of BZP.

According to STRIDE and NFLIS, BZP has been encountered in a number of states including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Since 2001, according to the System to Retrieve Information from Drug Evidence (STRIDE) database, DEA forensic laboratories analyzed 128 drug exhibits from 59 law enforcement cases pertaining to the trafficking, distribution and abuse of BZP. The analyzed drug exhibits comprised of 66,645 tablets, 8,409 capsules and 356,997.1 grams of powder.

According to the National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS), state and local forensic laboratories analyzed 94 BZP drug items from 76 law enforcement cases during 2000 through 2006.

Illicit distributions occur through smuggling of bulk powder through drug trafficking organizations with connections to oversea sources of supply. The bulk powder is then processed into capsules and tablet. BZP is encountered as pink, white, off-white, purple, orange, tan, and mottle orange-brown tablets. These tablets bear imprints commonly seen on MDMA tablets such as housefly, crown, heart, butterfly, smiley face or bull’s head logos and are often sold as "ecstasy." BZP has been found in powder or liquid form which is packaged in small convenience sizes and sold on the Internet.

BZP was temporarily placed into schedule I of the CSA on September 20, 2002 (67 FR 59161). On March 18, 2004, the DEA published a Final Rule in the Federal Register permanently placing BZP in schedule I.