Law firm set to take action over tranquilliser abuse
This follows a report presented to the European Commission last week claiming Ireland had the highest use of benzodiazepines (tranquillisers and sleeping tablets) per head of population in the EU.
In 2002, a Department of Health committee highlighted “worrying evidence” of benzodiazepine use and recommended more regulation and a crackdown on irresponsible prescribing. Law firm Ward & Fitzpatrick is examining court cases in England, where people have successfully taken actions against both pharmaceutical companies and individual family doctors in relation to benzodiazepines.
“At this stage we are looking at what is going on in the UK and seeing whether it has any implications for our clients here,” said Hugh Ward.
Mr Ward said they had between 10 and 20 clients. He said a decision on whether or not to take civil action would be made in four weeks.
Benzodiazepines include household tranquillisers and sleeping tablets such as Valium, Librium, Rohypnol, Dalmane and Mogadon.
While they are considered beneficial, if prescribed appropriately and for short periods, there is concern over the addictive nature of the drugs when, as is common, they are prescribed long-term. The drugs are also being sold onto the black market where they are widely abused by drug addicts.
A study of the Dublin City Coroner’s Court estimated around 70% of drug deaths involved these drugs.
The Department of Health committee said that almost 12% of people with medical cards were prescribed benzodiazepines in 2000, compared with 9% in 1995.
More than 1.6 million prescriptions for the drugs were issued in 2000, each containing over 26 tablets.
The committee said it was concerned that 70% of clients appeared to be taking benzodiazepines on an ongoing basis, despite a recommended limit of four weeks. It said 5% of GPs were prescribing 50% more than their peers.
The report recommended that a monitoring system be set up to track prescriptions, that irresponsible prescribers be prosecuted and that further legislation be introduced.
The Irish College of General Practitioners said that some progress had been made in improving doctors’ knowledge of the drugs.
The Department of Health said, given the detail involved, they would not be in a position to check the status of the recommendations for some days.
