Prescription drug abuse is set to soar during lockdown as dealers turn from selling cocaine to anti-anxiety tablets, a leading addiction expert has warned.
Michael Guerin said they appear to be supplying more tablets used for mental health conditions such as Xanax, as well as Diazepam which is normally prescribed for anxiety.
The Cuan Mhuire addiction therapist said he expects there to be a drop in cocaine addicts presenting themselves for treatment once restrictions have been lifted as the narcotic is normally used as a recreational social drug.
Mr Guerin told Dublin Live: “With drug dealers’ opportunistic personalities we will see them more than likely trying to push illegally obtained prescription drugs.
“The sale of cocaine I believe has contracted sharply with physical distancing and the lack of social interaction, as cocaine is a social interactive recreational drug in a lot of cases. It’s probably easier for dealers to get prescription drugs out on
to the market now.”
Mr Guerin added: “The first thing about the whole lockdown is that a base line level of anxiety has developed nationally. Even before, we had a doubling, trebling, over the past 10 years of the amount of psychotropic medication in Ireland.
“We are only going to see that getting worse following the first half of 2020. Everybody, irrespective of how well they are and how grounded they are have been complaining about increased anxiety levels.”
His predictions follow a number of large seizures in recent weeks. Earlier this month, gardai seized drugs –including prescription medication – worth €1.1million after searches in Meath, Dublin, Louth and Wexford.
And last month, 300 prescription drugs in Skibbereen, Co Cork, were discovered which were believed to have been purchased illegally online.
Officers also seized €900 of prescription tablets suspected to be Limovan, a drug used to help insomnia, and Valium, an anti-anxiety tablet.
