Is BZP a safe, legal alternative to Ecstasy?

First off, what are Piperazines? They are a synthetic chemical compound that was originally used to treat parasites (roundworms and pinworms). The most common drug in this family is Benzylpiperazine (BZP). For a while they were studied as an antidepressant, but they were found to be similar to amphetamines and to be addictive, so this was dropped.

So what does this mean to recreational users? Well, BZP is now being sold as "herbal ecstasy" or a "dietary supplement" (which is interesting since it is neither, and of course the labels don't actually say they contain BZP). The Erowid Experience Vaults show that while there can be a mild euphoric and trippy effect, this is typically accompanied by intense nausea, anxiety, and headaches. Overall, not very much like MDMA.

Like all drugs, Piperazines mixed with other chemicals can cause or amplify negative side effects. For a list of some drugs (antidepressants, etc) that have been found to cause these check out Piperazine Drug Interactions.