title: Misuse of benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in the UK.
abstract: Benzodiazepines and Z-drugs are commonly prescribed for insomnia and anxiety syndromes and there is increasing concern regarding their misuse. Using an internet-based questionnaire we found that of 1500 respondents 7.7% (n = 116) had misused one or more of these medications. Almost 15% of those misusing at least one of these drugs did so once weekly or more often. The main reasons reported for their use were to help sleep (66.4%), to cope with stress (37.1%) and/or to get high (31.0%). A total of 31% obtained the medications from multiple sources; healthcare professionals (55.2%) and friends/family (39.7%) most commonly. Our study can be used to inform prevention measures for their misuse.
authors: V. Kapil, MA, MBBS, MRCP, PhD, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London and Barts Hypertension Clinic, Barts Health NHS Trust, London UK; J. L. Green, PhD, CCRP, C. Le Lait, MC, MS, Denver Health Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver, Colorado, USA; D. M. Wood, MB ChB(Hons), MD, FRCP, FACMT, FBPharmacols, P. I. Dargan, MBBS, FRCP, FRCPE, FACMT, FAACT, FEAPCCT, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London and King's College London, London, UK.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Kapil
authors: V. Kapil, MA, MBBS, MRCP, PhD, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London and Barts Hypertension Clinic, Barts Health NHS Trust, London UK; J. L. Green, PhD, CCRP, C. Le Lait, MC, MS, Denver Health Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver, Colorado, USA; D. M. Wood, MB ChB(Hons), MD, FRCP, FACMT, FBPharmacols, P. I. Dargan, MBBS, FRCP, FRCPE, FACMT, FAACT, FEAPCCT, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London and King's College London, London, UK.
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Green
authors: V. Kapil, MA, MBBS, MRCP, PhD, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London and Barts Hypertension Clinic, Barts Health NHS Trust, London UK; J. L. Green, PhD, CCRP, C. Le Lait, MC, MS, Denver Health Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver, Colorado, USA; D. M. Wood, MB ChB(Hons), MD, FRCP, FACMT, FBPharmacols, P. I. Dargan, MBBS, FRCP, FRCPE, FACMT, FAACT, FEAPCCT, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London and King's College London, London, UK.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Le Lait
authors: V. Kapil, MA, MBBS, MRCP, PhD, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London and Barts Hypertension Clinic, Barts Health NHS Trust, London UK; J. L. Green, PhD, CCRP, C. Le Lait, MC, MS, Denver Health Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver, Colorado, USA; D. M. Wood, MB ChB(Hons), MD, FRCP, FACMT, FBPharmacols, P. I. Dargan, MBBS, FRCP, FRCPE, FACMT, FAACT, FEAPCCT, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London and King's College London, London, UK.
authors: D M
authors: DM
authors: Wood
authors: V. Kapil, MA, MBBS, MRCP, PhD, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London, William Harvey Research Institute, Centre for Clinical Pharmacology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London and Barts Hypertension Clinic, Barts Health NHS Trust, London UK; J. L. Green, PhD, CCRP, C. Le Lait, MC, MS, Denver Health Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center, Denver, Colorado, USA; D. M. Wood, MB ChB(Hons), MD, FRCP, FACMT, FBPharmacols, P. I. Dargan, MBBS, FRCP, FRCPE, FACMT, FAACT, FEAPCCT, Clinical Toxicology, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's Health Partners, London and King's College London, London, UK.
authors: P I
authors: PI
authors: Dargan
mesh_terms: D000081:Acetamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000188:drug therapy; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D000081:Acetamides; D053961:Azabicyclo Compounds; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D010879:Piperazines; D011725:Pyridines; D011743:Pyrimidines; C515050:zopiclone; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D000077334:Zolpidem; C085665:zaleplon