There are significant geographical variations in benzodiazepine prescribing rates on the publicly funded drug schemes, with some areas recording more than three times the rate of others, an analysis by RTÉ Investigates has found.
Our analysis found that on average from 2012-2017, Cork North Lee (made up of north Cork city and its suburbs), recorded around 17,500 benzodiazepine dosages prescribed, per 1,000 patients on the public drug schemes, per year. This was the highest of any Local Health Office (LHO) area in the country.
It was also more than three times the equivalent rate in Galway, which recorded around 5,500 dosages, the lowest in the country.
"Benzodiazepines are a group of psychoactive drugs which are commonly used to treat a wide range of conditions ranging from insomnia to anxiety," explained Dr Suzi Lyons, senior researcher at the Health Research Board.
"A commonly used one would be Valium. While they are really beneficial to treat this wide range of conditions under strict medical supervision for a short term, they have actually got a lot of known side effects."
Dr Lyons added that one "well known and unfortunate side effect in long term use is the risk of addiction.
Benzodiazepines showed particularly high rates of public prescribing in north and south inner city Dublin, as well as in Cork City and its environs, north and south of the Lee.
South Tipperary and Longford/Westmeath also showed comparatively high rates of prescribing for this category.
Source: Conn Corrigan, RTE News, 07/03/19
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