THE ROLE OF COPING STRATEGIES IN PROTECTING INDIVIDUALS AGAINST LONG-TERM TRANQUILIZER USE

This research examined the influences of social circumstances, coping and level and length of drug intake on dependence and withdrawal from benzodiazepine use. A sample of long-term benzodiazepine users were fo llowed up over a period of six months. At first interview the particip ants' drug intake and anxiety and depression levels were established a nd the Life Events and Difficulties Schedule (LEDS) was administered. At follow up these measures were repeated and individuals' coping stra tegies for dealing with dependence were also assessed, By the time of the followup interview slightly more than half of the participants (57 per cent) had either withdrawn completely from benzodiazepine medicat ion or had reduced their daily dose. Analyses showed that reduction wa s unrelated to factors associated with the drugs themselves, to the se verity of life-events and difficulties, to lessening of difficulties o r to the occurrence of positive life-events. Significant associations, however, were found between participants' coping responses in relatio n to long-term benzodiazepine use and the individuals' reduction or ce ssation of benzodiazepine use in the six month study period. The study showed that in the absence of positive life-events and in spite of on going difficulties actively confronting the ; problems of benzodiazepi ne use can have a positive effect on outcome. The findings suggest tha t interventions which encourage cognitive, behavioural and affective a spects of coping are those which would appear to be most likely to suc ceed.