The country’s leading forensic scientist, Harry Kennedy, head of the Central Mental Hospital, is involved in managing some of the most violent patients in the State. It goes without saying, therefore, that his warnings on the use of tranquillisers should be heeded.

Stopping the use of certain tranquillisers in prisons and hospitals reduces the levels of violence and self-harm and helps raise health standards, according to the country’s leading forensic psychiatrist.

YOUNG people are increasingly becoming addicted to tranquillisers such as Valium and Xanax — known on the street as “sweets” and “smarties” — and are running up massive debts to buy them.

THE Department of Health and the HSE are developing new policy to improve practices around the overuse of benzodiazepines (BZDs) within the health system.