Benzodiazepines

Around the globe, there is considerable illicit (i.e. extra-medical) use of pharmaceutical drugs such as benzodiazepines. In recognition of this, we have attempted to find the existing epidemiological data on the prevalence, incidence, duration and related mortality of illicit benzodiazepine use and dependence. We also attempted to locate existing epidemiological data on the risks for adverse consequences of illicit benzodiazepine use.

The research teams working on the collection and analysis of data on illicit benzodiazepine use, dependence, and for benzodiazepine use as a risk factor for other adverse consequences. “Gold standard” searches were conducted of Embase, PsycInfo and Medline to find data in the peer reviewed literature and in the “grey” literature. This search revealed that that there is currently insufficient data to allow an accurate estimate of the burden attributable to illicit benzodiazepine dependence worldwide. We propose excluding benzodiazepines as a separate drug class for the illicit drug burden estimation process. The failure to include these drugs does not imply that the illicit use of these drugs is without risk to users.

Discussion Papers