Ireland tops anti-depressant drug usage across EU

IRISH people use highly-addictive anti-depression drugs more than anyone else in Europe, according to evidence presented to the EU in Brussels yesterday.

Prescription drugs like Valium and Diazepam kill more people in Dublin each year than heroin and crack cocaine while the tablets are suspected of being a major factor in suicides across the country.

The European Commission has agreed to prepare guidelines on the use of these drugs for patients and doctors and on providing support for addicts.