Factors associated with benzodiazepine prescribing in community mental health settings
One class of drugs increasingly involved in overdose fatalities is benzodiazepines. Prescribing benzodiazepines to people with co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) poses risk for overdose and dependence and is not recommended. The current study reports prevalence rates of prescribing benzodiazepines to people with and without co-occurring SUDs in community mental health settings. Clinical and socio-demographic factors associated with receipt of a benzodiazepine were examined, including whether factors potentially indicative of prescribing biases (older age and race) moderated the relationship between having a co-occurring SUD and receiving a benzodiazepine prescription.
Source: Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment - Category: Addiction Authors: Lauren Jessell, Victoria Stanhope, Jennifer I. Manuel, Pedro Mateu-Gelabert Source Type: research