The Department of Health and the HSE are developing new policy to improve practices around the overuse of benzodiazepines (BZDs) within the health system.
The drugs, such as Valium and Xanax are commonly used to reduce anxiety or stress, encourage sleep or relax muscles.
However, concern has been mounting over their use for some time, and according to the Department of Health, "increasing evidence of inappropriate use" may necessitate the introduction of additional legislative controls on the prescribing of the drugs.
As well as this, there is a requirement on Ireland arising from a United Nations resolution to introduce import and export controls on BZDs. Under the resolution it will be necessary to create an offence of "unauthorised possession of a benzodiazepine".
This requires an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations and it is intended this will happen in 2011.
Source: Jennifer Hough, Irish Examiner, 23/04/2011
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