Transcript You Will Have… - Indiana Prevention Resource Center

An Educational Perspective
Based on Information Contained In
The Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Factline on Benzodiazepines®
By the end of this presentation:
you will have…
(1) Been exposed to general information about
Benzodiazepines.
(2) Learned some basic facts about Benzodiazepine
users in Indiana.
(3) Viewed the potential consequences of
Benzodiazepines use, both short-term and longterm.
(4) Learned about prevention efforts in Indiana.
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Benzodiazepines, which are sometimes referred
to as “bennies”, are psychotherapeutic sedatives
used to treat anxiety, panic attacks, short-term
sleep disorders, insomnia, and seizures.
These drugs constitute a class of central
nervous system depressants.
Brand names for drugs in this group include: Ativan®
(Lorazepam), Klonopin®/Rivotril®
(clonazepam), Valium® (diazepam), Xanax®
(alprazolam), Librium® (Chlordiazepoxide),
and Halcion® (Triazolam).
The National Forensic Laboratory Information System
analyzed police seized drugs and reported that Valium®
and Xanax® constituted 77.46 and 77.60% of the total
identified benzodiazepines between January-June 2003
and January-June 2004, respectively
Street names for Benzodiazepines include:
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“blue”
“zani”
“zanibars”
“vallies”
“moggies”
“rugby balls”
“roofies”
“peaches
“football”
Benzodiazepines appear either
as tablets (0.25-3.0mg) or as
capsules (5-25mg).
Depending on the drug of
interest and the store from
which it is purchased, the price
for 10 capsules or tablets can
range from $2.50-$30.00.
Abuse of benzodiazepines often results in suicide
(11% of men and 23% of women), withdrawal
seizures for those on treatment for abuse,
physical signs of alcoholism, cerebral atrophy,
serious mental illnesses, and social deterioration.
Nearly half of the drug abuse related emergency
department visits involving Benzodiazepines were
the result of suicide attempts.
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Despite the fact that suicide related visits
involving benzodiazepines have been stable
since 1995, visits attributed to drug dependence
and drug taking for psychic effects have been
increasing
The risk for benzodiazepine abuse increases for
users who have severe dependence,
polysubstance dependence, and antisocial
personality disorder.
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
The highest rates of benzodiazepine abuse occur
among people aged 26-44, but SAMHSA’s DAWN
reported a dramatic increase among 18-19 year olds
between 1995 and 2002.
By 2002 there was no significant difference
between the rate of drug abuse for male
patients and female patients
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Benzodiazepine use can be attributed to selfmedication of alcohol induced psychiatric
symptoms such as anxiety or insomnia,
attempts to cope with “hangovers” or
withdrawal symptoms, enhancement of the
intoxicating effects of ethanol, as well as the
legitimate therapeutic use to treat anxiety or
sleep disorders.
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Due to the large volume of these drugs, there
is a great potential for misuse and abuse.
Benzodiazepines were involved in 100,784
drug abuse-related emergency department
visits in 2002. This is a 41% increase since
1995.
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Currently, Benzodiazepines are a schedule IV
substance.
Possession of the drug, without a prescription, is in
violation of Indiana Code IC 35-48-4-7 (possession of a
controlled substance) and is a class D felony.
Illegal possession on a school bus or school
property is a class C felony in Indiana.
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
The Indiana Prevention Resource Center’s Survey on Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Other Drug Use by Indiana Children and
Adolescents; Data from 1996-2005.
http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/survey/atod/index.html
The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
http://www.in.gov/cji/index.html
The National Institute on Drug Abuse
www.nida.nih.gov/
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
Contact us
Indiana Prevention Resource Center
2735 East 10th Street, CA110
Bloomington, IN 47408-2602
Phone: 1-800-346-3077 or 812-855-1237
Fax: 812-855-4940
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.drugs.indiana.edu
Content in this presentation based, in part, on a Factline produced by Bilesha Perera, Ph.D, MS in 2005 and © The Indiana
Prevention Resource Center.
The Indiana Prevention Resource Center is funded, in part, by a contract with the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration,
Division of Mental Health and Addiction, financially supported through HHS/Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration,
Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant. The IPRC is operated by the Indiana
University Department of Applied Health Science and School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. It is affiliated with the
Department's Institute of Drug Abuse Prevention. The opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the
Trustees of Indiana University or the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana University accepts full responsibility for
the content of this publication. © Copyright, 2005 by the Trustees of Indiana University.
Indiana Prevention Resource Center