A prescription drug being abused by teenagers across the North of Ireland should be made a class C drug, health officials have said.
Pregabalin, also known by the brand name Lyrica, is an anti-epileptic drug also used to relieve chronic pain.
Last year, pregabalin was prescribed more in the North than anywhere else in the UK.
The drug has been linked to the deaths of two teenagers earlier this year.
It was one of a cocktail of drugs used by Aaron Strong, 19, and Aaron Fox, 16.
It is illegal to have class C drugs without a prescription and illegal to supply or sell them to others.
The Advisory Council for the Misuse of Drugs made the recommendation in a letter to British Ministers.
The letter cited warnings from the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) who highlighted “significant misuse and abuse” of the drug.
Pregabalin is known as “bud” or “Budweisers” by recreational users because it is makes them feel the same high as if they were drunk.
Joe Brogan, the HSCB’s head of pharmacy, said the problem “appears to be a growing issue”.
In 2012, Mr Brogan wrote to GPs and pharmacists telling them to be aware of the “potential misuse of the drug”.
It is understood that some doctors have written to patients who have been prescribed Lyrica to say they may need to review the dosage.
“We’ve been raising it with general practitioners and prescribers in primary care to be mindful of repeat prescriptions of the drug,” said Mr Brogan.
“It can be a challenge for prescribers to understand if the patient is getting sufficient treatment as it’s often used for a chronic pain issue.”
Pregabalin can be ordered online. It is understood it has been coming into Northern Ireland in fairly constant levels for a number of years, along with other prescription drugs including diazepam and temazepam.
Packages of the drug ordered by customers in Northern Ireland are intercepted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the UK Border Agency at airports in England every week.
Stephen Andrews, a community worker in north Belfast, said the drug is a “serious problem”.
“I first came across Lyrica about a year ago,” he said. “Myself and a colleague were called out by a residents to a young person who was banging his head off a brick wall repeatedly.
“He was covered in blood and wired out of his head. We took him to hospital and later found out he was on this drug.
“It’s a strange drug. It might make you take your clothes off because you are too warm, it makes you feel like you have super strength. You feel no pain.”
Mr Andrews said he believes the drug badly affects the mental health of users and can lead to depression and suicide in users.
“Kids are always looking for the next high. Our fear is that people have been taking it for a period of time and we’re not aware of it yet. These people will get in a very bad way.”
Alex Bunting. from Addiction NI, said the drug was finding its way onto the streets after being prescribed.
“It seems to be a drug that’s highly prescribed and a drug that’s open to abuse.
“We are seeing a developing use in communities. There is no doubt it is being used by a lot of people for legitimate treatment but there are also people seeking it out for its effects.
“A black market exists for it.”
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