IRELAND is in the grip of a massive drug epidemic, but instead of heroin or cocaine the culprits are perscription drugs - and the pushers are doctors.

A recent medical survey put Ireland close to the top in a league of EU countries prescribing tranquillisers.

Anti-anxiety drugs like valium and diazepam are widely used accross the country.

But tonight's programme, Drug Money, looks at the previously untold scale of anti-depressant use in Ireland and the massive financial drain that places on the State.

Depression is widespread in Ireland, with suicide figures constantly climbing.

Many people prescribed anti-depressants are in genuine need of medical help to deal with a very real and serious health problem.

But can the cure be worse than the disease?

Are anti-depressants a harmless crutch to help patients over a bad patch or are we in danger of becoming a Prozac Nation?

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