‘Designer Benzos’ Overdose Epidemic in Northern Ireland | The War on Drugs
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Published 2024-07-15
Benzodiazepines—a class of sedative drugs, known by name brands like Xanax and Valium, that are commonly prescribed to treat anxiety and depression—are a major part of Northern Ireland’s drug culture, with recreational users often necking down benzos alongside party drugs like cocaine or MDMA in a way that’s uncommon in the rest of the UK.
For the latest episode of VICE’s War on Drugs series, we explore Northern Ireland’s appetite for benzos, known colloquially as blues or yellows, and how it has its roots in the decades of sectarian conflict known as The Troubles.
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All Comments (21)
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Its so messed up it makes you an Irish Rapper
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You black out and wake up 3 days later in prison in a different state with your car totaled
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Benzo withdrawal is hell
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that house party looked hella depressing, ofc they have to use stuff
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I was prescribed benzos after my bestie passed away in my arms. I was completely numb from 2015 to 2018. I decided if I didn't quit I was going on a permanent vacation. I quit cold turkey 5-29-18. I never looked back. Now I'm a grandma living my best grandma life.
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Stay away, the withdrawal process is so painful and takes months.
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14 years on diazepam and 3 years in to ongoing withdrawals. Absolute hell !! God help them when it gets serious for real for real.
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Benzos are not used to treat depression, most benzos tend to make depression worse, and risk of suicide much higher. Youre wrong vice, its used for panic and anxiety. It used to be used for depression but was found to make it worse for most people.
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"Everybody's taking them " Not everybody mate
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I live in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is not normalised it isn’t as popular as smoking grass. Grass is still illegal, these boys do not speak for the people of our country!!
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These boys have no idea the amount of hurt they have coming to them when the money runs out
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Let’s see if they’re still smiling about “blues and yellows” in 10-15 years
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I remember reading a Reddit Thread discussing their worst addictions to overcome. There was the usual culprits: P*rn, Cocaine, Heroin, Food, Gambling and Alcoholism. The one that appeared more often and with damaging effects was was Benzodiazepines. Benzos are no joke! 😥
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Worst addiction of my life
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They won't feel like gods when the money, and supply runs out. These kids have no clue what they're in for. Several weeks, or months of withdrawal symptoms depending on how heavy a user they were. Insomnia, sweats, diarrhea, vomiting, maxed out anxiety, restless legs, and suicidal thoughts because they will just want relief from the symptoms. They will pay a steep price for feeling like gods. -Retired RN, Manager of a detox unit in the US.
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interviewing a xanhead and calling him a rapper is wild, like myguy every benzo addict thinks theyre a rapper when theyre of the benzinis
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the sad part is that those kids seem like they are aware and very selve reflected about whats going on in their comunity ...
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They'll get sober one day and realize what I know already.. Their music sucks 😂 .... Benzos are awful but each to their own....
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I was addicted to real blues for 15 years. Suckered getting off, no sleep for days but when it was over it was like being born again.
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Benzo withdrawl is hell, I've talked with ex meth addicts saying it was harder to get off benzos then meth.
