Benzodiazepines: addiction and abuse

Abstract

Benzodiazepine prescribing continues to be of importance both in the context of substance abuse and as part of the management of primary care mental health problems. Since the publication in Britain of both the 'Orange Book' and the National Service Framework for Mental Health, there has been a shift toward boosting the role of primary care in the management of substance abuse and, more generally, in mental health. Both publications have sections devoted to benzodiazepine prescribing. Yet before primary care can effectively extend its activity, the full primary care team needs to be well grounded in the broader educational aspects raised by benzodiazepine prescribing. We have therefore summarized the current understanding about benzodiazepines with the intention of supporting primary care in its changing role.