One of the country's leading pharmacists today urged a rethink on how some painkillers are sold as concerns mount about legal drug abuse.
Darragh O'Loughlin, a senior member of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU), believes tighter controls on potentially lethal codeine-based drugs could stem addiction levels.
Pharmacist Darragh O'Loughlin, senior member of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union
Customers buying the likes of Solpadeine and Nurofen Plus should be screened before being sold the over-the-counter medication that can lead to dependency, he suggested.
"If codeine-based painkillers were only available following a proper consultation with a pharmacist, you would have to explain your symptoms," said Mr O'Loughlin.
"And if the pharmacist was satisfied it was the right medicine before supplying, I think that would make it less likely that people would have problems with it."
Little research has been published on the extent of codeine and other painkiller addiction in Ireland. although anecdotal evidence suggests it's a widespread problem.
The IPU - which represents 1,600 pharmacists in Ireland - and the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association, an industry body, have unveiled an awareness campaign.
Posters and leaflets are to be issued to chemists urging customers to seek out advice and help, if necessary, when using painkillers.
Codeine is an opiate, from the same family as morphine and heroin, and so can be addictive in the same way as the other two more notorious drugs. Both Solpadeine and Nurofen Plus make up the vast majority of codeine-based painkillers sold over the counter in Ireland, according to the IPU.
Mr O'Loughlin insisted harsher restrictions, like making the painkillers prescription-only, would be counter-productive leading to strain on the health service.