Health
Sedative abuse landing more people in ED
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 6, 2004
The number of trips to hospital emergency departments related to abuse of benzodiazepine medications exceeded 100,000 in 2002, a 41% increase since 1995, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration's Drug Abuse Warning Network.
Nearly half of ED visits concerning abuse of this medication class involved patients who tried to commit suicide using a benzodiazepine, had thoughts of suicide or who had made suicide gestures. Most of the patients were admitted to hospitals after emergency treatment.
Increases in ED visits were seen among young adults as well as adults older than 45. The most dramatic increase occurred among 18- to 19-year-olds, whose rate tripled from fewer than 20 per 100,000 in 1995 to nearly 60 per 100,000 in 2002.
Although benzodiazepines are useful medications and are widely prescribed for patients with anxiety, insomnia or seizures, their sophistication and frequent presence "in the nation's medicine cabinets" has increased the danger that they will be abused, said SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie. The SAMHSA report is available online (link).
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2004/09/06/hlbf0906.htm.