Prevalence Of Benzodiazepine Use Research Articles

Flunitrazepam consumption among heroin addicts admitted for in-patient detoxification

The use of benzodiazepines among 973 heroin addicts admitted for inpatient detoxification over a 10-year period was assessed in a cross-sectional study. A total of 780 (80.2%) patients had a history of benzodiazepine use; 666 (68.5%) were consuming benzodiazepines at the time of admission and 419 (43.1%) on an almost daily basis. Seventy-five (7.7%) patients fulfilled criteria for sedative-hypnotic abuse or dependence. Consumption of benzodiazepines began after subjects had become addicted to heroin. Flunitrazepam was ranked first by 68.4% of patients, followed by clorazepate (13%), and diazepam (12.4%). The prevalence of benzodiazepine use, in particular flunitrazepam, among heroin addicts is very high. Specific abuse liability studies are needed to determine whether pharmacologic reasons exist to explain heroin addicts' preference for this compound.

Benzodiazepine use and HIV risk-taking behaviour among injecting drug users.

This paper examines the prevalence of benzodiazepine use, and its relationship to other drug use and HIV risk-taking among a sample of 1245 injecting drug users (IDU). Approximately a third (36.6%) of the sample had used benzodiazepines during their last typical month of injecting. Benzodiazepine users had injected more frequently, injected more heroin and amphetamines, and had more poly-drug use than other IDU. They also had higher levels of HIV risk-taking, having shared injecting equipment more frequently and with more people. There were no differences between groups in number of sexual partners or condom use, although benzodiazepine users were more likely to have been paid for sex. The demographic and drug use variables indicate that benzodiazepine users are a more dysfunctional subgroup of IDU who require particular attention in HIV interventions.

Critical review of liability for benzodiazepine abuse among alcoholics.

The authors critically reviewed the literature on benzodiazepine use among alcoholics, psychiatric patients, and the general population to determine whether alcoholics have a greater liability for benzodiazepine abuse. Data suggest that the prevalence of benzodiazepine use among alcoholics is greater than in the general population but comparable to the prevalence in psychiatric patients. The liability for abuse may also be greater for alcoholics, but the substantial methodologic deficiencies of existing studies preclude such a conclusion. Given the frequency of anxiety disorders and benzodiazepine use among alcoholics, their potential for benzodiazepine abuse is an important issue. The authors discuss clinical guidelines and strategies for future research.