Over-the-counter painkillers that contain codeine are ‘tip-toeing’ more people into addiction, according to one researcher.

A young woman with mental health and addiction issues, evicted from a flat after losing her rent allowance, was found dead in a tent in Cork City after taking a lethal cocktail of prescription drugs.

Packets of Nurofen Plus are being consumed daily by an increasing number of people addicted to painkillers, according to the clinical director of the country’s largest private addiction rehabilitation clinic, who says withdrawal symptoms for Nurofen Plus are similar to what heroin addicts experience.

A codeine addict who contaminated packets of Nurofen Plus in a ruse to fund his habit was jailed by a UK court today for 18 months.

Health chiefs have been ordered to carry out an investigation into the widespread prescription of powerful tranquillisers across Ireland.

A man was remanded in custody in Britain today accused of contaminating packs of the painkiller Nurofen Plus with anti-psychotic and anti-epileptic drugs.

Scotland Yard is examining the entire Nurofen Plus production chain after anti-psychotic drugs were found in a number of packets of the painkillers in the UK.

THE makers of Nurofen Plus recalled tablets in Britain last night and confirmed sabotage was suspected in packets of the painkillers.

The makers of Nurofen Plus recalled the tablets tonight and confirmed sabotage was suspected in packets of the painkillers.

ALL over-the-counter pain medications containing the “Hillbilly heroin” drug codeine should be made prescription-only to block the continuing rise in addictions to the narcotic, a leading expert has said.

People should be wary of the dangers of overusing the opium-based drug codeine found in many painkillers, pharmacists’ warned today.