Prescription Drugs- Benzodiazepines

(Also known as Benzos)

BY: Amanda Petric

 History Of Prescription Drugs
● Benzos are depressants that produce sedation and hypnosis, relieve anxiety and
muscle spasms, and reduce seizures.

● Benzos are the drugs company top-selling family of prescription drugs. Xanax, has
long been among the industry’s best-selling pills. There are now 94 million
prescriptions for various benzos in the U.S. alone — nearly one prescription for
every three citizens.

● This did not happen overnight. The story of modern benzos such as Xanax begins
nearly a century ago, in Germany, where chemists developed a class of sedatives
known as barbiturates. Barbiturates were the first synthetic tranquilizers.
 Synthetic or Natural
● Benozs are synthetic.

● Benzos are widely used in medicine to treat anxiety and insomnia.

● These are synthetic substances normally seen as drug-manufactured tablets,

capsules and occasionally as injectables.

● They act as depressants of the central nervous system (CNS).

 Can you develop a tolerance/dependence for Benzos.
Withdrawal process.
● Yes, tolerance and physical dependence.

● Tolerance develops rapidly to the sleep-inducing effects of benzos.

● The antiseizure drugs and muscle-relaxant effects last for a few weeks before
tolerance develops in most individuals.

Withdrawal Process: The following symptoms are likely to occur if you are getting withdrawals from
abdominal cramps. Agoraphobia (which is the fear of situations which feel difficult to escape), anxiety,
also physical symptoms such as muscle tension, tight chest, fast heartbeat, sweating, trembling or
shaking.
 Short/Long Term Effects
● Short Term Effects: drowsiness, constipation, memory loss, and slurred speech.

● Long Term Effects: addiction, withdrawal, cognitive decline, motor vehicle

crashes, and hip fracture.

● The risk of overdose is particularly great when combined with sedative drugs such
as opioids or alcohol.
 How is it Administered?
● Benozs are administered through oral, using a pill that doctors, prescribed
depending on your needs.
○ Examples of pills can be: Capsules. A capsule is an oral medication that's usually swallowed.
○ Softgels, a specific type of capsule
○ Sprinkle capsules
○ Traditional tablets
○ Chewable tablets
○ Oral disintegrating tablets
○ Sublingual tablets
○ Effervescent tablets
 Consequences if you are caught with any prescription
drugs that's not in your name or prescribed to you

● If you are caught illegally possessing prescription drugs, you could face a series of legal
consequences including arrest, jail time, a life-long criminal record and financial
penalties.

● Possession of prescription drugs, in any of their forms, brands, categories or

concentrations, without a valid prescription or in excess of the prescribed amount, is a
universally unlawful offense with severe legal and financial repercussions.

● Are also likely to face misdemeanor or felony charges carrying penalties of,
prosecution, court-order drug treatment, and monitoring conditions, driver’s license
suspension and excessive court fines.
 Recent News Stories
● More women than men prescribed drugs ‘harder to come off than heroin’.

● Benzos might be a ‘hidden element’ of the US’ overdose epidemic – and doctor
visits for prescriptions are increasing- There have been an increasing number of
deaths related to benzos overdoses, studies have shown. Some analysts believe that
while the over-prescription of opioids has gotten a lot of attention, the prescription
of benzos has been overlooked and needs more attention, and more needs to be
done to raise awareness among doctors about the potential problems associated
with prescribing these drugs.
 Interesting Information
● One in ten American Senior High School Students use Benzos
○ Teens are likely to buy benzos from friends, relatives, drug dealers, or strangers.There are many
dangers associated with using benzos recreationally. The use of benzos can be linked to increased
numbers of falls and fractures among users, as well as car crashes, misuse and dependence on the
drug, and higher risks of associated opioid use and overdose.

● The movie “Let’s Get Married” shows Benzos in it.

 Quiz Questions:
1. Are Benzos Synthetic or Natural?
2. What is one way it can be administered to the body?
3. What is one consequence of getting caught with Benzos?
 Sources
● https://www.ttuhsc.edu/pharmacy/museum/pharmacy.history.aspx#:~:text=The%20world%27s%20oldest%20known%20presc
riptions,making%20poultices%2C%20salves%20and%20washes.
● https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/prescription-medicines
● https://www.benzoinfo.com/a-brief-history-of-benzodiazepines/
● https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/prescription-drug-addiction/what-happens-getting-caught/
● https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/benzodiazepine
● https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/20/health/benzodiazepines-prescriptions-study/index.html
● https://www.ascendhc.com/teen-rehab-blog/teenagers-and-benzodiazepines/#:~:text=In%20one%20study%2C%20it%20was,fo
r%20medical%20or%20recreational%20use.&text=Teens%20are%20likely%20to%20buy,%2C%20drug%20dealers%2C%20or
%20strangers.&text=There%20are%20many%20dangers%20associated%20with%20using%20benzodiazepines%20recreationall
y.