HSE to develop policy to tackle benzodiazepines overuse

THE Department of Health and the HSE are developing new policy to improve practices around the overuse of benzodiazepines (BZDs) within the health system.

The drugs, such as Valium and Xanax are commonly used to reduce anxiety or stress, encourage sleep or relax muscles.

However, concern has been mounting over their use for some time, and according to the Department of Health, “increasing evidence of inappropriate use” may necessitate the introduction of additional legislative controls on the prescribing of the drugs.

As well as this, there is a requirement on Ireland arising from a United Nations resolution to introduce import and export controls on BZDs. Under the resolution it will be necessary to create an offence of “unauthorised possession of a benzodiazepine”.

This requires an amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations and it is intended this will happen in 2011.

Data from the Health Research Board (HRB) has shown that the annual number of treated cases reporting BZDs as a problem substance increased by more than 63%, between 2003 and 2008.

In addition, the HRB found that between 1998 and 2007 benzodiazepines were implicated in nearly one-third (31%) of all deaths by poisoning, with the annual number increasing from 65 (out of a total of 178) deaths in 1998 to 88 (out of a total of 274) deaths in 2007.

In 2002, a report by a governmental group, the Benzodiazepine Committee, drew up prescribing guidelines for clinicians. But since then figures have shown their prescribing frequency has increased year on year.

Now, the department is working on updating and re-issuing guidelines to prescribers, pharmacists and all relevant health professionals.

Figures from the Primary Care Reimbursement Service (PCRS) show the prescribing of Xanax has increased in recent years, with 283,000 prescriptions written in 2005 compared with 382,921 in 2008.