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BENZODIAZAPINES

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Benzodiazepines also referred to as 'Benzos' or tranquillizers, are depressant drugs - meaning that they slow down the activity between the brain and the body. They are commonly prescribed for stress relief, anxiety, and to promote sleep. However, they are increasingly being used illicitly for recreational purposes.  There are three primary types of Benzodiazepines; long, intermediate, and short-acting - short-acting are more addictive than long-acting Benzodiazepines and have strong withdrawal symptoms.  They may produce a number of effects, including depression, confusion, feelings of isolation or euphoria, impaired thinking

and memory loss, blurred vision, nausea, drowsiness, sleepiness, and fatigue.

Long-term regular use may cause sustained impairment in thinking and memory,

anxiety and depression,  irritability, paranoia and aggression, changes in personality,  persistent fatigue, headaches and nausea, skin rashes, and sleep disturbances. 

Benzodiazapine Use Statistics
 

  • In 2018, two-thirds of IDRS participants reported recent use of benzodiazepines. This rate reflects a trending reduction from levels in the past decade (79% in 2009).

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  • In 2017 and 2018, there was a substantial decline in the median frequency of benzodiazepine use (140-150 of the last 180 days in 2013-2016 participants; 94 of the past 180 days in 2018 

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  • Non-prescribed use of alprazolam has been consistently low in the past four years (22% in 2018), but this remains the benzodiazepine most commonly injected (9% in 2018)

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  • There has been a decline in non-prescribed use of other benzodiazepines among IDRS participants in the past 5 years, falling from 50% in 2013 to 36% in 2017. This reduction has been apparent across all benzodiazepines but was most marked for diazepam and temazepam

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  • About 3% of the Tasmanian adult population are estimated to have used benzodiazepines for non-medical purposes in the past year

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  • Among the EDRS population, non-prescribed pharmaceutical use remained infrequent –however, rates in 2018 were similar to those in 2017, which were significantly higher compared to previous years, with two-fifths reporting recent non-prescribed benzodiazepines (40% in 2018; 35% in 2017), more than one quarter reporting non-prescribed pharmaceutical stimulant use (28% in 2018, 35% in 2017), and one-quarter using codeine-based tablets for non-medical application (25% in 2018, 27% in 2017).

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Seeking help?
 

  • Alcohol and Drug Information Service (ADIS)
    24 hour free call on 1800 250 015
     

  • Free Alcohol and Drug Counselling Online
    www.counsellingonline.org.au
     

  • Lifeline
    24 hour free call on 13 11 14 or visit www.lifeline.org.au
     

  • Mental Health Services Helpline 
    1800 332 388 

For More Information
 

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Harm Reduction

 

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