High Anxiety

So, a large portion of the Irish middle classes are addicted to or abusing drugs it has been claimed in a book called The High Society.

In the pages it is possible to read many true stories of doctors , lawyers, and Gardai who have had or have addiction problems. One of the reasons cited is the easy availability of drugs to Gardai who get them from criminals and doctors, who can get them from legalised drug dealers called big pharma. Not sure where the lawyers get them. Maybe from the doctor when they have a cold?

While it is a great tragedy to see any life destroyed by drugs it is an even bigger tragedy and crime the way some of the doctors were protected by their families. They were using drugs to get through work and while doing so may have been putting the life of innocent patients at risk. Yet their secret was kept by their family members because of the possible shame or the fact that the Medical Council would not want to know. What about the hurt possibly suffered by some unfortunate patient who had the bad luck to be in the hands of some of these 'brilliant' medical professionals.? Who knows what harm they have caused over the years and how would anyone find out, so well protected are the doctors?

If a poor person covered up out of loyalty or shame they would be told this would not help and the addict would have to accept the situation and seek treatment regardless of what loss of face they might incur. And who would tell them. You've guessed it, the local friendly doc of course.