title: Minor tranquilizers: clinical correlates of use in an urban population.
abstract: Rapid growth in the production and prescription of minor tranquilizers has stimulated increasing concern that we live in an "overmedicated" society. Data regarding drug use from a health survey in Oakland, Calif, show that (1) 20% took a minor tranquilizer or sedative during the previous year, 10% daily for a week or more; (2) use was related directly to the amount of distress and dysfunction, to psychologic more than to other types of disturbance, but not to situational stress alone; and (3) taking tranquilizers was only one aspect of a complex pattern of coping behaviors including the almost universal use of some medication, most often a "nonpsychotropic" type.
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002140:California; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D012380:Role; D012803:Sick Role; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents