Letter to the Editor: Medical Council benzo advice not in interest of patients

The Medical Council has issued guidelines to doctors for the prescribing of benzodiazepine medications. The document equates the use of benzodiazepines with opiates and warns doctors that any inappropriate prescribing will be negatively viewed by the council.

Making comparisons between drugs such as diazepam and methadone is utterly alarmist and highly inappropriate. Was any member of the council with training in psychopharmacology involved in drawing up the recommendations? How can such hyperbole be justified on the basis of scientific evidence?