In 2015, almost 900,000 prescriptions were written for just two benzodiazepine drugs, with users becoming heavily dependent on them — often with painful results, says Helen O’Callaghan.    

A thief told a colleague at a Co Tipperary drugs manufacturer that he needed just two Valium for a pain in his head — but he ended up stealing 6,000.

Liz Dunphy looks at addiction and prescription tranquilisers — and talks to the practitioners who are re-humanising the treatment of emotional distress — without pharmaceutical intervention.