Benzodiazepine dependence: a general practice survey.

This study aims to evaluate the dependence potential of benzodiazepines in general practice. Amongst a sample of 1079 current general practice patients 87 (8.1 percent) were using benzodiazepines. Most of the users were middle to old age females and had chronic physical illnesses. The drug history was extensive (mean--3 years 7 months) and about 39 percent (34/87) of users were currently on a higher dose than the first prescribed dose. Interview of a selected group (40) of benzodiazepine users showed 75 percent (30/40) to be from a lower socio-economic class and 17 percent (7/40) of these reported past experiences consisting of withdrawal phenomena of varying severity. Benzodiazepines appear to have replaced barbiturates in the general practice setting.