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”.