Xanaxs (White Bars),

The coroner for Northern Ireland has known as the growing variety of deaths related to faux versions of the anti-tension drug, Xanax, “an escalating crisis”.

Joe McCrisken says he’s signing off an alprazolam-associated death almost once a week.

He says “maximum of the deaths” are resulting from counterfeit variations of Xanax, the brand name for the drug alprazolam.

“The deaths are a totally tiny tip of what is a very large iceberg,” he says.

Xanax is used to treat tension and panic attacks. It isn’t always available on the NHS. It is a effective tranquiliser.

But it can be received on non-public prescription within the UK, is widely prescribed in the US, and counterfeit variations circulate at the black market.