More than 4,300 Cordobans abandon the use of anxiolytics and other benzodiazepinesManuel Murillo
Córdoba has managed to reduce the consumption of benzodiazepines by 4.1% in one year, between the months of April 2023 and 2024. A decrease that in Andalusia has remained at 3.4%. From the Junta of Andalusia celebrate this achievement as a result, in part, of the Campaign BenzoStopTogether. Its objective is to raise awareness about the proper use and risks of these drugs, which are consumed by more than one million people in the Andalusian community. One in 10 people in Andalusia is a chronic consumer of these drugs. Half are over 65 years old and seven out of 10 are women.
The percentage decrease achieved would mean that in Andalusia around 64,017 users have stopped using them and in Cordova4,366 people. The good news, points out the Junta de Andalucía, is that eight out of 10 people who try to stop taking these drugs succeedwith greater or lesser difficulty.
Some of the benzodiazepines and anxiolytics prescribed in Spain.
The use of benzodiazepines is only indicated inanxiety crisiswhen symptom control is necessary, or in cases of severe insomnia, only if it interferes with daily life. Even so, its use should not extend more than two to four weeks, since it has been proven that These medications are only useful for a certain amount of time. and that, once elapsed, they stop producing the desired effect, and produce risks associated with their consumption and increase the risk of accidents, falls and cognitive deterioration. Besides, produce tolerance and dependenceso its benefit/risk balance in the medium and long term is unfavorable.
BenzoStopTogether Program
The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs, through the Andalusian Health Service, with the collaboration of the Andalusian School of Public Health, launched the program in 2022. BenzoStopTogether: Living without Tranquilizers is Possiblean initiative whose main objective is to raise awareness among the population that chronically consumes benzodiazepines for problems for which they are not really indicated, such as mild and occasional anxiety or occasional insomnia. The most commonly consumed drugs are lorazepam, lormetazepam, bromazepam, alprazolam or zolpidem..
The campaign is also developed in collaboration with the Andalusian Council of Official Colleges of Pharmacists (Cacof)and has the support of scientific societies, councils of professional associations, as well as the direct involvement of Primary Care and Hospital professionals, and community pharmacies, in order to improve knowledge about benzodiazepines and their alternatives. , encourage its proper use and reduce the risks derived from its continued consumption.
Patient education material
The program consists of professionals offering patients information and educational material in consultations and in community pharmacy offices. This material, which is available on the web, is a local adaptation of another existing one in the field of health in Canada, and has been endorsed by 25 entities.
Specifically, it provides information about benzodiazepines and the risks of their continued use, healthy alternatives with which to combat the stress of everyday life without resorting to drugs (relaxation techniques, breathing and self-control, changing habits, exercises…) and how to proceed. for cessation with the help of professionals.
In addition, it includes a self-test to measure the degree of dependence on these drugs, as well as a directory of self-help guides for depression and anxiety disorders from the Andalusian Health Service and a suggested cessation guideline.
