The Government has been urged to implement long-awaited plans to combat the illicit trade in prescription sedatives, as figures show seizures of the tablets have more that doubled.
Community workers have told Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, the drugs minister, that some young street dealers are making up to €1,000 a week selling the tablets.
Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan said community drug and youth projects were struggling to cope with the “aggression” and “chaotic nature” of people consuming these tablets, often taking them with alcohol and other substances.
It comes as figures supplied to the Irish Examiner show that almost 400,000 illicit sedative drugs were seized in 2013 — a 150% jump on 2010 figures.
These include benzodiazepines, a group of tranquillisers, and so-called Z drugs, or hypnotics, like Zopiclone and Zimovane.
Health Protection Regulatory Authority figures show that 154,581 tablets were seized in 2010, rising to 165,843 in 2011, 291,167 in 2012, and 393,318 in 2013.
Plans by the Department of Health to tackle the illicit trade in these legitimate medicines were prepared by former drugs minister Róisín Shortall in September 2012, following consultations between the gardaí, customs officials, the HSE, and pharmacists. The projected date for completing the regulations was January 2013.
Source: Cormac O'Keeffe, Irish Examiner, 11/08/15
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