DUBLIN, Ireland – July 2017: Findings of the report on “The drugs situation in Ireland: an overview of trends from 2005 to 2015” prepared by the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University, show that in 2014, the 228 drug-related deaths involving benzodiazepines in Ireland, constituted the largest number of drug-related deaths, after opiates at 249 deaths. In that same year, 23 drug-related deaths were also linked to the use of new psychoactive substances. Moreover, among patients entering treatment whilst in prison in Ireland, benzodiazepines were reported as the primary problem drug of use (excluding alcohol) after opiates in 2015.

For more information, please see:

Report by the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University on “The drugs situation in Ireland: an overview of trends from 2005 to 2015” – http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27254/1/The%20drugs%20situation%20in%20Ireland_%20an%20overview%20of%20trends%20since%202005.pdf

UNODC News Clip “April 2017 – UNODC: Several countries place benzodiazepine derivatives under national control” – https://www.unodc.org/LSS/Announcement/Details/065118d5-b238-48d8-9d7f-b95fb5d11411