Prevalence and Pattern of Benzodiazepine Abuse and Dependence Among Patients in a Methadone Detoxification Programme: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Analysis (Benzodiazepine Abuse Among Opiate Addicts)

Abstract

This study was a repeated cross-sectional analysis of records of admissions to an in-patient methadone detoxification programme in two twelve-month matched periods, four years apart. The objectives were to identify changes in prevalence and pattern of benzodiazepine abuse and dependence among opiate addicts between the first (baseline) and second (follow-up) study periods. Prevalence rate of benzodiazepine abuse increased from 11.8% at baseline to 36% at follow-up, and the rates for benzodiazepine dependence at baseline and follow-up were 4.5% and 15.4% respectively. The following significant changes between the two study periods were also observed:Age of first benzodiazepine use, temazepam use, combined use of multiple benzodiazepines. injecting behaviour, use of barbiturates and cannabis, severity of dependence, and rate of treatment completion. The need to routinely assess methadone detoxification patients for benzodiazepine abuse and dependence on admission is underscored.

Correlates of benzodiazepine abuse in methadone maintenance treatment. A 1 year prospective study in an Israeli clinic

“…The present study thus con® rms the ® nding that BZD-abusing patients in Israeli MMT are worse off than non-abusing patients (Stitzer et al, 1981;Darke, 1994;Oyefeso, Ghodse & Williams, 1996).…”

The epidemiology of benzodiazepine misuse: A systematic review

“…However, these studies were published over two decades ago, and therefore preference might-at least in part-reflect availability during this period. Route of administration might also determine one's preference, given that temazepam (particularly the gel-filled capsule formulation) and flunitrazepam appear to be the most commonly injected benzodiazepines (Forsyth et al, 1993;Fountain et al, 1999;Fry and Miller, 2001;Fry et al, 2007;Fry and Bruno, 2002;Lavelle et al, 1991;Oyefeso et al, 1996;Strang et al, 1994;Sunjic and Howard, 1996;Williams et al, 1996). Recent studies from East Asia also report midazolam injection (Hayashi et al, 2013;Kerr et al, 2010;Ti et al, 2014;Van Griensven et al, 2005).…”