Co-abuse of opiates and benzodiazepines

Abstract

The objective of the study was to assess what differences exist between individuals who are dependent on opiates and benzodiazepines and compare to those who are dependent on opiates. A questionnaire was compiled and administered to patients who had been consecutively admitted to an inpatient drug treatment unit. The prevalence of benzodiazepine dependency was 54 per cent [n=34]. Patients dependent on benzodiazepines and opiates were significantly older, had been admitted for methadone stabilisation and were more likely to have been prescribed a methadone maintenance programme prior to admission. They had used heroin longer, benzodiazepines more frequently, at larger doses for a longer duration of time and tended to use more drugs in general. They were found to be more psychologically vulnerable than those not dependent on benzodiazepines as they were significantly more likely to have described a past experience of depression and a past episode of deliberate self harm.

Patterns of substance use in male incarcerated drug users in Sri Lanka

“…The tendency for polydrug use was high lifetime, last 12 months and last 30 days. The concurrent use of benzodiazepines and heroin has been reported in previous studies [47][48][49][50][51][52]. The lifetime prevalence of benzodiazepine use by heroin addicts can be as high as 94% [53].…”

The SUMMIT Trial:

“…Additional predictors (older age, fewer custodial sentences, and absence of drug-using parents), although less powerful, made intuitive sense. Additional use of benzodiazepines and cocaine/crack is known to negatively effect prognosis (Marsden et al, 2009;Rooney, Kely, Bamford, Sloan, & O'Connor, 1999). The use of more prescribed medications was surprising but could imply more engage- ment with treatment systems or experience of more negative consequences of drug use leading to greater motivation to engage.…”

Characteristics of opiate users presenting for a new treatment episode: Baseline data from the national drug treatment outcome study in Ireland (ROSIE)

“…Benzodiazepine poly-drug users are more likely to inject, to share injecting equipment, and to have higher risks of HIV and HCV infection (Drake, 1994;Drake, Hall, Ross, & Wodak, 1992). Use of this class of drugs has also been found to be associated with greater psychological morbidity (Rooney, Kelly, Bamford, Sloan, & O'Connor, 1999) and to compromise treatment outcomes (Gossop, Stewart, Browne, & Marsden, 2002).…”