Misuse of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in the UK.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Kapil, V; Green, J L; Le Lait, C; Wood, D M; Dargan, P I
- Source
- British Journal of Psychiatry (BR J PSYCHIATRY), Nov2014; 205(5): 407-408. (2p)
- Subject
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 0007-1250
Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs are commonly prescribed for insomnia and anxiety syndromes and there is increasing concern regarding their misuse. Using an internet-based questionnaire we found that of 1500 respondents 7.7% (n = 116) had misused one or more of these medications. Almost 15% of those misusing at least one of these drugs did so once weekly or more often. The main reasons reported for their use were to help sleep (66.4%), to cope with stress (37.1%) and/or to get high (31.0%). A total of 31% obtained the medications from multiple sources; healthcare professionals (55.2%) and friends/family (39.7%) most commonly. Our study can be used to inform prevention measures for their misuse.