[Misuse of benzodiazepines: a study among key informants in São Paulo city].
The aim of this study was to understand the practice of prescription, dispensation and prolonged use of benzodiazepines, from the point of view of health care professionals and of chronic users of these substances. The sample group was formed using the snowball technique, totaling 19 key-informants. The semi-structured interviews were recorded and transcribed for analysis. Most of the interviewees reported frequent benzodiazepine prescriptions through requests made to doctors, without the need for a formal appointment. The users reported a history of prolonged use (between 2 and 8 years) for purposes other than the simple therapeutic purpose. They also emphasized the ease in acquiring the medication and the lack of medical counseling about the necessary precautions during treatment. The study suggests that the occurrence of misuse involves not only the dispensation control system, but also a series of other factors, including the attitudes of health care professionals.
Orlandi
Paula
P
Universidade Federal de São Paulo.
Noto
Ana Regina
AR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population
D001569:Benzodiazepines