Psychotropic Drugs In Addiction

Abstract

To the Editor.— I feel moved to take exception to Dr. Blackwell's article, Psychotropic Drugs in Use Today, when he states the lack of abuse of diazepam (225:1637, 1973). Anyone like myself, who runs a drug treatment program, especially with methadone maintenance, knows of addictive abuse of these products. I would judge at least 30% of my patients have abused diazepam and a number of them had to be gradually withdrawn from dosage of 40 to 80 mg daily. They suffered severe withdrawal symptoms. Because of the central nervous system depressant action, diazepam also potentiates the depressant effect of methadone and makes for a very unmanageable patient. I have seen this same depressant effect on patients other than addicts. We have all seen suicides in people robbed of their own defense mechanisms, after having their anxiety removed by diazepam. Consequently, unprotected against their depression, they succeed in their suicidal motives.