 |
|
Addiction to Benzodiazepines—How Common?
August Piper, Jr, MD
Arch Fam Med. 1995;4(11):964-970.
Abstract
Benzodiazepines have compiled an impressive record of safety and efficacy. Despite this record, however, physicians and laypersons frequently worry about the drugs' addictive potential. Overemphasizing these concerns may discourage prescription of benzodiazepines, thereby impeding treatment of anxiety disorders. This review first defines the term addiction. It then examines how frequently conditions meeting that definition occur in patients without histories of substance abuse, who are prescribed benzodiazepines under medical supervision. In such patients, benzodiazepines almost never induce behavior that satisfies any reasonable definition of addiction.
Author Affiliations
Dr Piper is in private practice in Seattle, Wash.
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Addiction to Benzodiazepines-- How Common?
Grad
Arch Fam Med 1996;5:384-384.
ABSTRACT
Addiction to Benzodiazepines-- How Common?
King
Arch Fam Med 1996;5:383-384.
ABSTRACT
|
