Benzodiazepine Treatment Capacity Building Project : Findings from Service Provider and Service User Interviews

  • Angela Harney, Turning Point Alcohol & Drug Centre, Australia

    • Background and Objectives
    Previous studies indicate that there are high levels of benzodiazepine use among illicit drug users. However little is known about the capacity of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services to treat benzodiazepine use, particularly in the context of polydrug use. This study was part of a wider project aiming to investigate the capacity of Victorian AOD treatment services to address benzodiazepine dependence and related harm. This study aimed to explore the ways in which AOD treatment services responded to benzodiazepine misuse as well as benzodiazepine users’ experiences of AOD treatment.

    Method
    Semi-structured interviews were conducted by telephone with a representative sample of AOD treatment providers. Interviews collected information on characteristics of benzodiazepine users, strategies for addressing benzodiazepine dependency, harms encountered and liaison with GPs and other services. Five semi-structured interviews were also conducted with service users to validate the results of service provider interviews.

    Findings
    While the study found that the AOD agencies interviewed generally had a good level of capacity for treating benzodiazepine dependence and misuse, a number of issues were identified. Service providers reported that the client group were predominantly polydrug users, reluctant to self-identify use or undertake treatment for benzodiazepine misuse.

    Conclusions
    Findings suggested that standardised screening tools may be beneficial and that some treatment strategies practiced, while not yet evidence based, had potentially positive outcomes and require further evaluation. It was also apparent that external factors impact the capacity for treatment, including the current prescribing system, GP education and lack of public awareness. Finally, the significant need for effective referral and communication links across different health services was evident, emphasised by the protracted nature of benzodiazepine withdrawal and need for consistent care over time and across services.