Doctors should critically and urgently review their current level of prescribing tranquillisers, according to an expert committee.
The committee, which was appointed by the Minister for Health two and a half years ago, is also calling for a monitoring system for all prescriptions for what are known as benzodiazepine drugs. Its recommendations are due to be published today.
The report of the ministerial committee, which has been seen by The Irish Times, also recommends that legislation "to comply with Ireland's international obligations" in the area of drug misuse should be drawn up at an early date and tightening of controls of tranquilliser prescribing should be introduced as soon as possible.
"The due process of law should be used to prevent irresponsible prescribing of benzodiazepines and the necessary resources should be made available in the Department of Health and Children to ensure that the small number of doctors who are prescribing inappropriately - thereby putting their patients and others at risk - should be identified, investigated and dealt with appropriately," the report states.
As a result of concerns about the potential misuse of these medications amongst vulnerable groups such as older people and opiate addicts, the Benzodiazepine Committee was established by the Minister, Mr Martin, in June 2000.
It was specifically set up to examine prescribing and use of benzodiazepines and to make recommendations on good prescribing and dispensing practice. It also looked at the management of drug misusers.
The move was in response to the finding of high levels of benzodiazepines in the urine of heroin addicts and because of indications of prolonged prescribing of the drugs to older people.
The committee included representatives from health boards, the Irish College of General Practitioners, An Bord Altranais and the Department of Health as well as pharmacists, psychiatrists and the Inspector of Mental Hospitals.
Its report says the size of patient packs available for benzodiazepine products be reduced and that pharmacists keep dispensed benzodiazepine prescriptions separate from all others to facilitate inspection and monitoring.
It also suggests health boards put in place a system of communication to address the question of fraudulent prescriptions.
The expert committee recommends an improvement in the reporting of drug-related deaths to clearly identify whether drug dependence or drug misuse were the cause of death.
Benzodiazepines - which include drugs such as Valium, Librium and Rohypnol - are among the most widely prescribed medications in the world.They are used for the treatment of anxiety states, insomnia, panic attacks, epilepsy and muscle spasm.
Their side effects include dependence and risk of depressing central nervous system function, especially in older people.
Anti-anxiety drugs and hypnotics can cause drug dependence even in prescribed therapeutic doses.