Teens run up €1k drug debt for tranquilliser

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 highly addictive pills, benzodiazepines (BZDs) are now the most prevalent drugs, after alcohol and cannabis, being abused by young people, following the demise of dangerous synthetic substances which were sold in head shops.

Community drug workers told the Irish Examiner at least 90% of the people they see from the age of 14 up have been abusing the drugs, also known as “benzos”.

Although they can be legally prescribed by a GP, most young people buy them illegally from street dealers, when they can cost anything from 50c to €5 for a tablet.

Dr Sharon Lambert, who works with young people at the Matt Talbot Adolescent Services, said teenagers from the age of 14 are presenting for help and may have been taking up to 30 a day at the height of their addiction.

“By the time we see them, they could be taking the pills for a month or more — some taking up to 30 a day.

“Parents might only find out when someone comes to the door looking for money to repay a debt, or the young person is stealing from the house. They are running up thousands. It can be hundreds but the average debt is €1,000.”

She maintains young people do not even know what they are taking. “They know them as sweets and smarties and those names [give] the illusion that they are not medical drugs. We see a lot of Diazapam 5mg and 10mg, which they call D5 or D10, and we see Xanax and Rohypnol. They have never heard the word Benzodiazepine, which is much less attractive.”

Professor Colin Bradley, head of General Practitioners at UCC, says while it is known at the highest level there are issues around the prescribing of BZDs, nothing solid has been done to counter it.

“In 2002, a report by a governmental group, the Benzodiazepine Committee, identified the problem and drew up guidelines but since then nothing has happened,” he said.

“The disturbing thing is that there is no great evidence that we are starting to stop prescribing these drugs. The problem is getting worse not better.”

A national community detoxification pilot programme is to be rolled out in Cork and Kerry to help people come off the drugs.

The scheme will bring GPs, community drug workers and the Matt Talbot centre together to support a user who wants to detox.

Patricia Barrett, a community drugs worker in Cork, said no one should try to quit BZDs alone.