PREVALENCE AND PATTERN OF BENZODIAZEPINE ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE AMONG PATIENTS IN A METHADONE DETOXIFICATION PROGRAM - A REPEATED CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS (BENZODIAZEPINE ABUSE AMONG OPIATE ADDICTS)

This study was a repeated cross-sectional analysis of records of admis sions to an in-patient methadone detoxification programme in two twelv e-month matched periods, four years apart. The objectives were to iden tify changes in prevalence and pattern of benzodiazepine abuse and dep endence among opiate addicts between the first (baseline) and second ( follow-up) study periods. Prevalence rate of benzodiazepine abuse incr eased from 11.8% at baseline to 36% at follow-up, and the rates for be nzodiazepine dependence at baseline and follow-up were 4.5% and 15.4% respectively. The following significant changes between the two study periods were also observed: Age of first benzodiazepine use, temazepam use, combined use of multiple benzodiazepines, injecting behaviour, u se of barbiturates and cannabis, severity of dependence, and rate of t reatment completion. The need to routinely assess methadone detoxifica tion patients for benzodiazepine abuse and dependence on admission is underscored.