Benzodiazepine use - current trends: evidence review

1. Introduction

Benzodiazepines and similar drugs such as z-drugs^[1] are widely prescribed in the treatment of a variety of conditions, ranging from anxiety, insomnia, and seizures to musculoskeletal pain and palliative care. The use of both prescribed and non-prescribed or 'street' benzodiazepines has been well-documented among people who use drugs in Scotland since at least the 1980s, however recent years have witnessed a sharp increase in benzodiazepine-related and benzodiazepine-implicated harms and deaths, largely due to street benzodiazepines.^[2] There has been a similar rise in benzodiazepine-related hospital admissions.^[3]

The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of current knowledge of trends around benzodiazepine-related deaths, hospital admissions, police seizures and prescribing practices, and to draw together key considerations for further discussion. The paper also presents an annotated bibliography of studies relating to benzodiazepines in Scotland (Annex A), which informs some of the considerations presented.