Call to probe sudden death links to drug use

An estimated 1,100 people who died last year — and whose death was not due to natural causes — were taking anti-anxiety or anti-psychotic medication.

The most commonly found drug was valium (diazepam) which was present in 658 of the samples taken in 2006. Another was flurazepam, a sleeping tablet, generically known as Dalmane.

The drugs are not thought to have led to the deaths, but they showed up after the screening that takes place after all sudden deaths.

It’s understood that up to 200,000 Irish people could be taking anti-anxiety or depression pills.

Psychiatrist Dr Patricia Casey said the figure “did seem awfully high”.

“With older people especially, those drugs would be used an awful lot. Older people tend to have problems sleeping and you’d prescribe such drugs. Valium is also used for back pain and as a muscle relaxant,” Dr Casey said.

She said that she would like to see the age profile of these people.

“This figure raises a lot of questions, certainly. But, there is no evidence that the likes of valium leads to cardiac problems which, along with strokes, would be a common cause of sudden death.”

Earlier this year, a National Drugs Advisory Committee report showed that 16% of people in the 35-64-year-old age bracket have taken anti-anxiety and mood altering drugs.

It showed Irish people on state benefit are by far the biggest users of tranquillisers and anti-depressants. Weighed down by financial, housing, social and educational pressures, 25% have used tranquillisers and 13% are currently on them. Up to 42% of divorced people and 26% of those separated use such drugs to calm anxieties.

Source, Claire O’Sullivan, Irish Examiner, 18/08/2008