Designer Benzodiazepines and Related Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) in Seized Tablets in Ireland 2019-2025

Benzodiazepines are a widely prescribed medication used to treat anxiety, panic disorders, insomnia and seizures. The misuse of this class of drugs in Ireland has increased over the last eight years with a 70% increase in persons participating in drug treatment programmes being treated for benzodiazepines as the main problem. A recent publication from the Health Research Board (HRB) indicated that benzodiazepines and related NPS were implicated in more than 50% of drug poisoning deaths in Ireland in 2021. Data collated from Forensic Science Ireland’s (FSI) LIMS system show that FSI receives, on average, almost 700,000 seized benzodiazepine type tablets each year since 2019. Legitimate pharmaceutical presentations are submitted for analysis as well as falsified (fake) pharmaceutical presentations. Data showing the seizure trends during this timeline of many different drugs and NPS will be presented. The changes to the controlled drug law in Ireland and how these have influenced this market will also be presented. Many falsified (fake) pharmaceutical tablets were encountered during this period.