Benzodiazepines are prescription medications that are depressants, meaning they decrease the activity of the central nervous system and cause sedation, sleepiness, and relaxation. They are prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, including panic disorders, as muscle relaxants, and prevent seizures. These drugs are habit-forming, and people may abuse them to get a sense of euphoria, relaxation, and to self-medicate to get relief from anxiety.
- Examples of commonly prescribed benzodiazepines are alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and lorazepam (Ativan).
- Benzodiazepines are Schedule IV controlled substances.
- Benzodiazepine use increases with age and is more prevalent in women.
- Combining opioids with benzodiazepines is extremely dangerous. About one-third of opioid overdoses have occurred in people who were also using benzodiazepines.
- In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that doctors do not prescribe patients both opioids and benzodiazepines at the same time.
- Flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) is a benzodiazepine known commonly as “roofies” and that has gained notoriety for being used for sexual assault or as a date rape drug.
- Benzodiazepine addiction statistics show that overdose deaths involving these drugs have been increasing since 2002. Most of these were combinations with opioids.
- Xanax is the most commonly abused benzodiazepine by teens. In recent years, abuse of these drugs has decreased among eighth-graders but has increased slightly among tenth and twelfth graders.
