The introduction of roadside drug testing may be having the inadvertent effect of tackling the “epidemic” of over-the-counter painkiller abuse in Ireland, according to a leading policy maker.
Medical Bureau of Road Safety director Prof Denis Cusack told attendees at a discussion on drug and alcohol use organised by the Irish College of General Practitioners that the painkiller epidemic is particularly acute among middle-aged women.
“I believe this is actually going to have, inadvertently, a coincidental and an unintended consequence that we might be able to start tackling the over-the-counter overdosing by people using Solpadeine and Paracetamol,” said Prof Cusack of the tests.
Roadside tests for drugs including cannabis, cocaine, heroin and benzodiazepines were introduced in Ireland in April. And commercially available products containing codeine are now also subject to statutory limits.
Prof Cusack added that he has received numerous emails of complaint from individuals who say they have had to come off their prescriptions for over-the-counter painkillers for fear of being caught over the limit while driving.
Source: Ciarán D'Arcy, The Irish Times, 27/05/17
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