World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day (W-BAD) occurs on July 11 and aims to raise awareness about the dangers of benzodiazepine use. Although benzodiazepines can be an effective treatment for acute conditions, they can pose many risks, including addiction and dangerous withdrawal symptoms.
Because of this, benzodiazepines should only be used short-term, when they are deemed medically necessary, and have been prescribed by a licensed physician. W-BAD aims to help make people aware that even when using benzodiazepines as prescribed, risks of dependence, addiction, and adverse effects can occur.
What is Benzodiazepine Awareness Day?
World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day (W-BAD) was started to help raise awareness about the dangers of benzodiazepine abuse and addiction. W-BAD started on July 11, 2016, and occurs every year on this date, in homage to Professor Heather Ashton. Dr Ashton was born on July 11, 1929, and died on September 15, 2019. W-BAD is recognized on her birth date in her honor.
Dr Ashton’s work, spanning decades, focused on the research of drug effects, supporting people with benzodiazepine withdrawal, and educating medical professionals and governmental agencies about benzodiazepine-related harm. [1]
The purpose of W-BAD is to increase education and awareness among the public and prescribers about the potential harms of benzodiazepine use, with the intention of: [2]
- Ensuring that people are adequately informed about the risks of benzodiazepines, including dependence, addiction, and withdrawal, before they commence benzodiazepine treatment.
- Ensuring that benzodiazepine treatment is prescribed for short-term use only, limited to a maximum of four weeks.
- Ensuring that physically dependent individuals are given adequate tapering schedules to discontinue benzodiazepine treatment safely.
- Ensuring that medical professionals are adequately trained and educated about benzodiazepine use, prescription, and safe tapering schedules, to properly support their patients before, during, and after treatment.
Benzodiazepine overview and its uses
Benzodiazepines are a class of central nervous system (CNS) depressants that slow brain activity, producing calming, sedative, muscle-relaxing, and anticonvulsant effects. They are commonly prescribed for the short-term treatment of anxiety disorders, panic attacks, insomnia and other sleep disorders, seizures, muscle spasms, and certain medical procedures. [3][4]
There are several types of benzodiazepines, which differ in how quickly they begin working, how long their effects last, and their approved medical uses.
Common examples include:
Although effective when used as prescribed, benzodiazepines carry a risk of dependence, misuse, and overdose, particularly with long-term use or when combined with other central nervous system depressants. [4][5]
Risks and side effects of benzodiazepines
Common side effects of benzodiazepines include: [4][5]
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Impaired reflexes
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Tremors
- Slowed breathing
- Dizziness
- Cognitive impairments
Serious side effects can be less common, but include: [4][5]
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Respiratory depression
- Severe changes in heart rate
- Severe cognitive impairment
- Extreme sedation
- Loss of consciousness
- Overdose
Risk of dependence and addiction
Benzodiazepine use can result in the development of dependence and addiction. Benzodiazepine dependence can begin very quickly, within as little as two weeks of frequent use, even if they are used as prescribed. This means that the body becomes reliant upon the drug and the individual must continue to take it to feel “normal” and prevent withdrawal symptoms. [3][4]
Withdrawal symptoms can range from mild to severe and can include rebound anxiety and insomnia, disturbed sleep, shaking, sweating, concentration difficulties, headaches, pain and stiffness, nausea, irritability and other mood changes, seizures, and psychotic symptoms. [3][6] Withdrawal symptoms are likely to be more severe in individuals who have taken high doses, for a prolonged period. [3]
Although addiction differs from dependence, it is common for addiction to develop once an individual has become dependent on a substance. If someone has used benzodiazepines for several weeks or more and developed dependency, they may begin to develop an addiction. This can result in severe impacts on mental and physical health, impaired professional, academic, social, or personal functioning, and other consequences on life and well-being. [3]
Because of these risks, it is not uncommon for people to misuse benzodiazepines. This might mean using medications more frequently or in larger amounts than prescribed, administering the medication in an unintended manner, or seeking multiple prescriptions to obtain larger quantities. Benzodiazepines are commonly sold illicitly, known as diversion, because of their high demand. [4][5]
Using benzodiazepines safely
Benzodiazepines can be an effective treatment and may be required for a range of treatment needs. As such, it is important that people know how to use the medication safely. This includes:
- Taking a daily dose for no longer than two weeks before beginning tapering.
- Using benzodiazepines sporadically, as needed, rather than every day.
- Never using a higher dose than prescribed.
- Never replacing the prescribed type of benzodiazepine with a different one.
- Only using benzodiazepines that have been obtained from a licensed physician or pharmacist.
- Never stopping benzodiazepines suddenly; following a structured tapering schedule to reduce the dose gradually, before complete discontinuation.
How to get involved with World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day
World Benzodiazepine Day can help people learn more about these risks and how to use benzodiazepines safely. Promoting W-BAD can help raise awareness and ensure this message reaches medical professionals and the public.
1. Sharing information on social media
This could include:
- Using the hashtag #worldbenzoday.
- Sharing links from worldbenzoday.org.
- Sharing the W-BAD logo on your social media or photos of you wearing W-BAD t-shirts.
- Following W-BAD on YouTube and Facebook and sharing their updates.
2. Being active in your community
This could include:
- Hosting events to raise awareness and spread information.
- Handing out W-BAD pamphlets.
- Speaking with people to share information.
- Encouraging others to speak about their experiences, helping to reduce stigma and raise awareness.
3. Attending W-BAD events
You can find out if events are happening within your area, such as within your local community, at your local hospitals, clinics, or medical facilities, and how you can help or get involved.
4. Educating yourself
This can include:
- Watching documentaries about benzodiazepine risks and addiction and sharing the documentaries and the things you’ve learned with others.
- Learn more about how benzodiazepines affect people and share this information.
- Learn about the different types of language that can be harmful and helpful; what might perpetuate stigma and judgment and what might help to reduce it.
5. Finding out about local legislation
Although federal laws dictate the scheduling of substances and prescription guidelines, local legislation impacts how authorities and prescribers monitor benzodiazepine prescriptions and manage risks. Researching policies in your state or county can help you discover opportunities to vote on upcoming law changes.
Support for benzodiazepine misuse and addiction treatment
If you are worried about your own or someone else’s benzodiazepine use, you can learn more about how to manage benzodiazepine use or contact your primary care provider for advice and a referral to specialist services.
Various treatment and support options are available. Treating benzodiazepine addiction may require professional intervention to reduce risks and ensure the best outcomes. This can include medically supervised detox, rehabilitation programs, and therapeutic interventions such as behavioral therapy.
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