Pubdate: Mon, 29 May 2000 Source: Irish Examiner (Ireland) Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 2000 Contact: http://www.examiner.ie/ Author: Niall Murray CALL TO STRIKE OFF DOCTORS PUTTING DRUG ADDICTS ON TRANQUILLISERS FAMILY doctors who have unnecessarily prescribed tranquillisers to recovering drug addicts should be disqualified from practice, an ex member of a European anti-drugs agency warned yesterday. Almost two thirds of clients at Eastern Health Board drug treatment clinics last year tested positive for benzodiazepines, a tranquilliser normally prescribed for insomnia and nervous disorders. The sedative is sometimes administered under strict supervision by drug addiction centres. Concerns have regularly been raised in the medical profession that general practitioners have been giving prescriptions for the substance to drug addicts, purely for their own financial gain. Misuse of benzodiazepines can have a serious negative effect on patients in methadone programmes to overcome addiction to illegal drugs such as heroin. Health Minister Micheal Martin is establishing a committee of interested parties which will begin examining the issue in the next few weeks. Cllr Con O'Leary, a former member of the Southern Health Board and European Cities Against Drugs, said doctors found to be issuing prescriptions unnecessarily should be struck off the medical register. They are abusing their own powers and the addicts, and there should be no conspiracy to cover up for them. These prescriptions should be traceable and the garda drug squad should be brought in to track them and prosecute the doctors for irresponsible prescribing, said Cllr O'Leary, an independent member of Cork Corporation. If a publican can be fined and held responsible for giving drink to someone who is already drunk, then the same should apply to doctors, he said. I am glad the minister is working to find a way of ruling out these practices, but it is important that the committee should not just include members of the medical profession, Cllr O'Leary said. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek Rea