Benzodiazepines are synthetic depressant drugs that are mood altering and addictive. These slow down messages between the brain and body. Prescription use of benzodiazepines can be for treatment of stress, anxiety or insomnia, and can have long-acting, short-acting and intermediate acting releases. In Australia there has been an increase in illegal “novel” benzodiazepines, which are unregulated, can be mixed with other drugs and vary in strengths.
How common is benzodiazepine substance use disorder in Australia for all people aged 14+?
The most common form of Benzodiazepine misuse is the misuse of prescriptions and is ranked 5th in relation to all substance use disorders and substance misuse.
Benzodiazepines are the leading contributor to drug-induced deaths.
Benzodiazepine use can result in different social and health-related harms with short-term and long-term effects and burden of disease.
The burden of disease for benzodiazepines for the past two decades has been identified as the most common substance in single drug-type drug-induced deaths and is currently responsible for 45% of drug-induced deaths in Australia (overdose).
Approximately 1.5 million people in Australia a year are prescribed with a benzodiazepine substance each year.
Benzodiazepine dependence is recognized by changes in behavioural, cognitive and physical wellbeing. This includes strong cravings for benzodiazepine substances and difficulty in controlling the use of them, continuing or increasing use despite current and potential harms and consequences caused by use, increased tolerance to benzodiazepines, physical withdrawal symptoms when use stops, prioritising use of benzodiazepines over people and other obligations such as engaging with friends and family or going to work or school.
Fresh Start medical practitioners can provide pharmacotherapy treatments for benzodiazepines use disorders that clear away benzodiazepine molecules from the brain, thereby promoting rapid detoxification. In addition to the medical treatment provided, Fresh Start patients are also given access to appropriate mental health support and other services to support their recovery and prevent relapse.
Whilst it is possible to reduce the effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms, it is not possible to stop them completely. Detoxing may be uncomfortable for a period, but with appropriate living arrangements and medical and other professional support during this period your safety and comfort can be managed.
Recovery from substance use disorders is possible with the appropriate addiction treatments and recovery plans.
https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/benzodiazepines/
https://druginfo.sl.nsw.gov.au/news/australias-annual-overdose-report-2023#:~:text=In%202021%20opioids%20were%20the,to%2045.7%25%20of%20total%20deaths
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/impacts/health-impacts
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/impacts/economic-impacts