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Problem benzodiazepine use in Ireland: treament (2003 to 2008) and deaths (1998 to 2007)

There has been an increase in the number of cases* presenting for treatment, and people dying, as a result of misuse of sedatives (benzodiazepines), such as diazepam, in recent years.

The latest figures presented by the Health Research Board (HRB) indicate that the annual number of cases treated for problem benzodiazepine use has increased by just over 63%, from 1,054 in 2003 to 1,719 in 2008. These prescription drugs were also implicated in nearly one third of all deaths by drug poisoning between 1998 and 2007, with the annual number of deaths, rising from 65 in 1998 to 88 in 2007.