Benzodiazepine Addiction – Prescription Medication Abuse

Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive drugs used in the treatment of many different disorders and conditions, including seizures, anxiety, insomnia, and alcohol withdrawal. All benzodiazepines have an addictive potential. In fact, recent studies from DAWN (Drug Abuse Warning Network) list benzodiazepine addiction as one of two most frequently reported prescription medication addictions, along with opioid pain relievers.

An exciting, new form of addictions research analyzes internet search behaviors for a wide range of potentially abusive substances. The following study examined the search results for benzodiazepine-related terms over a one-year period.

Long List of Benzodiazepines from which to Choose

The list of benzodiazepines is lengthy. There are at least 16 well-known benzodiazepines on the market, including the most recognizable – Xanax, Valium and Ativan. Graph 1 below reveals that 5,073 searches/year were conducted using the term “list of benzodiazepines”. Clearly, individuals are searching for information on this popular class of psychoactive medications.

Searches involving the words benzodiazepines and alcohol present an interesting dichotomy. With just over 8,700 searches a year, the phrase “benzodiazepine and alcohol” could indicate that individuals are either looking for information about the extremely harmful effects of combining alcohol and benzodiazepines, or the use of benzodiazepines in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal. The phrases, “alcohol withdrawal” (300) and “acute alcohol withdrawal” (274) more clearly point to inquiries about benzodiazepines in connection with alcohol withdrawal treatment.

Benzodiazepine Addictions Research - Prevalent Search Topics - Graph 1

(Continued on Graph 3 at the bottom of this page)

Top 30 two and three word combinations

	estimated searches/year across all search engines
	0		9000
benzodiazepines and alcohol	8760
list of benzodiazepines	5073
types of benzodiazepines	2190
benzodiazepine withdrawal	2178
benzodiazepine comparison	1826
what are benzodiazepines	1825
benzodiazepine list	1460
fda approved benzodiazepines	1150
half life of benzodiazepines	1097
benzodiazepine abuse	1095
benzodiazepine equivalency	1095
benzodiazepine withdraw	804
benzodiazepines drug test	731
benzodiazepine half life	730
medicines that contain benzodiazepines	730
benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome	548
kava xanax benzo	474
all benzodiazepines	394
list of all benzodiazepines	365
benzodiazepines info	365
benzodiazepine pharmacology	365
methadone benzodiazepine interaction	328
alcohol withdrawal	300
benzodiazepines claritin	292
acute alcohol withdrawal	274
withdrawal from benzodiazepines	222
benzodiazepines opiate	219
benzodiazepines test	219
benzodiazepines in your body	182
benzodiazepine drug	146
description of benzodiazepine	146
purchase benzodiazepines	146
benzodiazepine equivalence	146
benzodiazepines and the elderly	146
	0		9000

Benzodiazepine Addictions – Concern from Internet Users

In Graph 2, the individual words associated with benzodiazepine searches reveal a genuine concern for the harmful potential of benzodiazepine abuse and dependency. The words, “withdrawal”, “abuse”, “withdraw” and “symptoms” total 4,885 searches. With benzodiazepine addictions on the rise, the internet is a useful source of information for this substance abuse issue.

Benzodiazepine - Prevalent Words and Concepts Study - Graph 2

Top 100 words used in benzodiazepine searches
(Top 1000 can be found at Top 100 benzodiazepine exact phrases and top 1,000 concepts/words. - Graph 5)

	estimated searches/year across all search engines
	0		89,000
benzodiazepines	87024
benzodiazepine	54260
alcohol	9068
list	6961
long	3214
how	2937
stay	2934
withdrawal	2751
urine	2228
types	2190
what	1918
life	1833
half	1833
comparison	1826
abuse	1207
fda	1150
approved	1150
equivalency	1095
test	1090
drug	902
withdraw	807
system	743
contain	741
medicines	730
xanax	558
syndrome	548
benzo	486
kava	474
all	395
pharmacology	365
info	365
term	346
methadone	330
interaction	328
opiates	328
claritin	292
used	276
acute	274
elderly	261
anxiety	230
from	225
opiate	223
body	182
stats	159
muscle	157
equivalence	146
description	146
purchase	146
detection	129
positive	123
symptoms	120
patients	112
relaxer	110
valium	105
conversion	80
amphetamine	76
short	76
chart	76
barbiturates	75
mexico	73
times	73
catagories	73
pharmacodynamics	73
magnesium	73
injecting	73
listing	73
disorders	73
koop	73
labor	73
te	73
onset	73
diazepam	55
new	51
compare	49
natural	49
psoriasis	49
handouts	49
urinalysis	49
equivalencies	49
abbreviation	49
relaxers	46
side	44
overnight	36
delivery	36
society	36
script	36
equivalent	33
cannabinoid	30
dose	28
strengths	28
non	27
addiction	26
treatment	26
ethanol	24
article	24
lethal	24
review	24
palpitations	24
alprazolam	19
limits	18
	0		89,000

Advanced Addictions Research from a Prominent Montreal Drug and Alcohol Rehab

Clear Haven Center, a leading Canadian drug and alcohol rehab center close to Montreal, Quebec, generously sponsors search frequency research as a part of an ongoing commitment to the advancement of substance abuse programs and treatment. By studying the search behaviors of internet users, Clear Haven has pioneered an innovative new form of addictions research. To read more fascinating research investigations, visit other pages on this site.

Benzodiazepine - Prevalent Search Topics, Continued - Graph 3

Top 31 - 100 two and three word combinations
(Top 30 are in Graph 1 above)

	estimated searches/year across all search engines
	0		120
benzodiazepine drug test	116
benzodiazepines abuse stats	110
benzodiazepines muscle relaxer	110
positive benzodiazepine drug test	110
benzodiazepine and elderly patients	110
benzodiazepine detection	83
benzodiazepine conversion	80
benzodiazepines for anxiety	78
benzodiazepines xanax	74
barbiturates benzodiazepines	74
injecting benzodiazepines	73
what are amphetamine	73
benzodiazepines te koop	73
benzodiazepines in labor	73
benzodiazepine detection times	73
mexico benzodiazepine	73
benzodiazepine conversion chart	73
benzodiazepines onset	73
listing of benzodiazepines	73
benzodiazepine pharmacodynamics	73
benzodiazepine magnesium	73
benzodiazepine withdrawal anxiety	73
benzodiazepine withdraw symptoms	73
benzodiazepine catagories	73
anxiety disorders benzodiazepines xanax	73
benzodiazepine withdrawal valium diazepam	55
valium diazepam	55
benzodiazepine equivalencies	49
benzodiazepines stats	49
compare benzodiazepines	49
benzodiazepine handouts	49
benzodiazepines abbreviation	49
benzodiazepine psoriasis	49
new benzodiazepines	49
benzodiazepine urinalysis	49
natural benzodiazepines	49
benzodiazepines equivalent strengths	28
benzodiazepines alcohol	27
benzodiazepines alcohol withdrawal	26
lethal dose benzodiazepines	24
benzodiazepine withdrawal palpitations	24
review article on benzodiazepines	24
ethanol benzodiazepines alcohol withdrawal	24
benzodiazepine or cannabinoid detection	24
non benzodiazepine	18
benzodiazepine drug detection limits	18
benzodiazepine receptor	16
chamomilla benzodiazepine	12
benzodiazepine valium	12
benzodiazepines impaired memory	12
gaba benzodiazepine chemical defense	12
benzodiazepine potencies	12
benzodiazepine in urine	11
benzodiazepines not covered	11
benzodiazepine addiction	11
benzodiazepine valium xanax	10
addiction to benzodiazepines	10
strongest benzodiazepines	10
valium xanax	10
non benzodiazepines	9
benzodiazepine mechanism of action	8
benzo adderall combo	8
benzodiazepine withdrawl	8
benzodiazepines priapism reported	8
benzodiazepines addictive	7
paradoxical excitation and benzodiazepines	7
strongest benzodiazepine	7
best benzodiazepine	7
benzodiazepines and lc/ms	6
benzodiazepines overdose	6
	0		120