Inside Belfast's Deadly Benzos Boom | The War on Drugs

This is how decades of conflict have shaped Northern Ireland’s prescription drug scene and why it is leading to alarming drug deaths among young people.
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.
You can find Durt Burt’s music here:
Instagram: @durt.burd
Tik tok: @durt.burd
Click here to subscribe to VICE: bit.ly/Subscrib...
About VICE:
The Definitive Guide To Enlightening Information. From every corner of the planet, our immersive, caustic, ground-breaking and often bizarre stories have changed the way people think about culture, crime, art, parties, fashion, protest, the internet and other subjects that don't even have names yet. Browse the growing library and discover corners of the world you never knew existed. Welcome to VICE.
Connect with VICE:
Check out our full video catalog: bit.ly/VICE-Videos
Videos, daily editorial and more: vice.com
More videos from the VICE network: www. vic...
Click here to get the best of VICE daily: bit.ly/1SquZ6v
Like VICE on Facebook: vice
Follow VICE on Twitter: / vice
Follow us on Instagram: / vice
Follow us on TikTok: www.tiktok.com...
The VICE RUclips Network:
VICE: / vice
MUNCHIES: / munchies
VICE News: / vicenews
VICE TV: / @vice-tv
VICE Life: / broadly
Noisey: / noisey
Motherboard: / motherboardtv
VICE Sports: / noc
Waypoint: / waypointvice
#vice #drugs #crime