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SECOND OPINION:ON READING the latest research data from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs regarding usage of sedatives, tranquillisers and antidepressants in the 32 counties, I am reminded of two great adages - “lies, lies and damned statistics” and cynical Pilate’s famous line “what is truth?”

At first glance it would seem that we are a nation of junkies and depressives. In a survey of 7,000 people aged 15-64, 10 per cent have used antidepressants in their lifetimes; while 11 per cent have used tranquillisers/ sedatives. Of greater concern, 11 per cent of the latter obtained them without prescription; 7 per cent from people they knew; and 2 per cent from pharmacists!