A long time ago, scientists at Yale University began looking into a group of drugs called benzodiazepines.
These medicines were created to help people who feel very anxious or can’t sleep well. For many, these pills seemed like a miracle.
Before benzodiazepines, doctors used a different kind of drug called barbiturates. Those were strong but risky. Benzodiazepines were supposed to be safer and better.
But the Yale researchers found something troubling. Even though benzodiazepines help calm the brain, they might also be addictive. That means people can start needing them more and more.
In fact, after only about four weeks, half of the patients studied needed higher doses to feel the same calm feeling. This is one of the first signs of addiction—when your body gets used to the drug and needs more of it.
Although benzodiazepines are not as addictive as barbiturates, they can still be dangerous. When people try to stop taking them, they may feel extremely anxious, nervous, or even start shaking. This makes it really hard to quit once they’ve started taking the pills for a while.
What’s even more worrying is how common these drugs have become. Between 1996 and 2013, the number of prescriptions went up by 67%, reaching a huge number—135 million prescriptions each year. That’s a lot of people relying on these drugs.
Researchers fear this could turn into a crisis like what happened with opioids. Many people got addicted to painkillers, and it caused serious problems. Now, something similar might happen with benzodiazepines. These drugs are even being used by teenagers more than opioids. They’ve become so common, they’re even mentioned in popular culture.
When used the right way, benzodiazepines can be helpful and safe. But when mixed with opioids, they become very dangerous. That’s because both drugs slow down the brain, and taken together, they can stop someone from breathing.
Doctors may be part of the problem too. The researchers believe that some doctors are giving out these drugs too often. They might feel unsure about how to treat some symptoms, so they turn to medicine quickly. This includes benzodiazepines, but also other drugs like SSRIs (used for anxiety and depression) and antipsychotics.
Unfortunately, deaths caused by overdosing on benzodiazepines are rising. This shows that people are not just using them too much, but also dying because of them. The researchers say we need to be more careful. These drugs should not be handed out so easily.
In the end, this research tells an important story. Even medicines that are made to help us can be dangerous if not used properly. It’s a reminder for everyone—patients and doctors—to be cautious, ask questions, and not depend too much on pills without knowing the risks.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about how dairy foods may influence depression risk, and 6 foods you can eat to improve mental health.
For more mental health information, please see recent studies about top foods to tame your stress, and Omega-3 fats may help reduce depression.
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