CHILDREN in their very early teens and even younger are becoming addicted to anti-depressants like Xanax and other prescription drugs, according to a Limerick city councillor.
Maurice Quinlivan, who is the Sinn Féin General Election candidate for Limerick city, said he knows the problems that abuse of Xanax and other prescription tablets have on younger people and described it as “the worst type of addiction to get off”.
“It has been explained by a number of the drug and alcohol councillors that it can take anything up to three years for some of these teenagers to come off this type of addiction properly.
“They are buying these prescription type drugs online and not from the most credible of sources. In particular, Xanax is a drug used to treat depression but they are mixing it with drink to get high and it is certainly not meant for that”, Cllr Quinlivan explained.
John, a 24 year-old former addict from Limerick city who asked that his surname be withheld for his own safety, described the use of prescription drugs by young people as an “epidemic that has broken in the last number of years”.
The extent of the problem is evident from the large numbers of empty Xanax tablet packets that can be seen discarded on the streets and in housing estates.
“Children as young as 10, 11 and 12 years of age are taking packets and packets of Xanax. I was addicted to them and developed really bad medical problems as a result. Children as young as primary school childen are taking them, and regularly.
He says the tablets sourced online and because of this, there would be credibility issues around their ingredients.
“Most of them aren’t even manufactured properly so God only knows what is in them. The youngsters are sourcing these tablets for a quick and easy hit.
“This has flooded over the city and I don’t think people realise just how much of this is going on and I hope that some intervention can be given to these kids before it’s too late.
“I should know because the worst thing is the consequences of taking these dodgy tablets. I was addicted to these tablets and now have to take permanent medication because of the seizures that I have been left with as a result of my drug abuse.
“I just don’t want children growing up and getting into the same situation as I did – I am only 24”.
John says that he hopes in 2016 there is a greater awareness to try and combat the usage of what he describes as “the new heroin” in the city.
