The State has dropped a charge of possession of €2.5m worth of ecstasy against a man in light of last week’s Court of Appeal ruling.

Alcohol is the most common date rape drug in the country, according to rape crisis groups.

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.

Date-rape drugs are still too easily available around the world and countries need to clamp down on them, a watchdog said yesterday.

AS the pressures of life intensify in Ireland today, growing numbers of people are turning to tranquillisers, sedatives and anti-depressant drugs for stress relief.