Posted by KellyD on December 16, 2003, at 7:33:35
In reply to how did it get this bad?, posted by scott-d-o on December 16, 2003, at 6:43:42
> Now that it has been established that benzodiazepines are not addictive and only dependency can develop I think a more interesting question is how did benzo's get such a bad reputation?
~ I think there are many answers to that question and a number of them began many years ago with, indeed, inapproiate prescribing - I think they are "addicting" to certain individuals. Interestingly, the media is always quick to report anybody's "addiction" to anything and it almost will always likes to report of a benzo "addiction". Though, this is getting replaced with the pain killer "addiction".
Widespread misinformation is more available than anything positive on the the use of benzos - ie: the famous UK site. There are more published studies to support the "addiction" findings than the long term "good outcome" findings.... sadly.
>After requesting Klonopin, I honestly had a pdoc tell me that Klonopin was the same thing as Xanax which he referred to as a "street drug" and said was "more addictive than heroin", which almost caused me to burst out laughing and ask where he received his doctorate (I want to go there, it must be easy as sh*t.)~Bad information is more harmful than good.
> Who thinks its because companies that hold SSRI's on patent are whispering "benzo's are addictive, prescribe more SSRI's," over and over into their ears?
~ Money does get attention in these matters.
> Or is it because they *are* sold on the black market. The only reason being because they are bought either by people who are suffering and can't get a prescription because of this myth and it is the only way to find relief, or by people whom are abusing street drugs, who are going to continue to abuse those drugs whether they get the benzo or not.
~ A bit of both, I guess. Again, back to inapproiate vs. approiate use. Drs. are very keen on the liability issues involved - people misuse, doctors get sued, a nasty situation.
~ I wish I thought things would improve and the resistance for use in correct situations wouldn't be there. But, I don't see change on the horizon. The mindset is well, set, for a number of Drs. and people are suffering because of it...
Best to you. Good question - complicated answers.
poster:KellyD
thread:290163
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031213/msgs/290418.html