Benzodiazepine: Harm Minimisation Strategies
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Quick Summary
- Benzodiazepines, commonly known as benzos, are a group of drugs with depressant effects, often prescribed to relieve stress, anxiety, and assist with sleep problems.
- While they can be useful when prescribed, they also carry significant risks, including dependency, overdose, and dangerous interactions with other substances.
- This guide provides harm minimisation strategies for safer benzodiazepine use.
General Safety Tips for Benzodiazepine Use
Understand Your Substance:
- Know the Effects and Risks: Benzodiazepines slow down the activity of the central nervous system, producing relaxation and sedation. They are available in short, medium, and long-acting forms, each with different durations and withdrawal profiles.
- Follow Prescriptions: Use benzos only as prescribed by a doctor. Long-term use (over four weeks) increases the risk of dependence.
Set and Setting:
- Mindset: Ensure you are in a stable mental state. Avoid use if you are feeling overly stressed or depressed.
- Environment: Use in a safe, familiar, and comfortable setting, ideally with trusted friends.
Mixing and Masking Effects:
- Avoid Mixing with Other Drugs: Particularly avoid combining benzos with alcohol, opioids, GHB, and other depressants. These combinations increase the risk of respiratory depression and overdose.
Measure Your Doses Accurately:
- Dosage Guidelines: A single pill generally contains a dose within the effective therapeutic range. If unsure of the strength, start with half or a quarter of a pill to test the effects. Avoid redosing too quickly, as benzos can stay active in your system for a long period (24 hours or more).
Stay Hydrated and Nourished:
- Hydrate: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Eat Healthy: Maintain a balanced diet to support your overall health.
Substance-Specific Tips
Oral Ingestion:
- Use as Directed: Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Snorting:
- Clean and Safe: Finely crush the pill and use a clean straw or spoon. Avoid using money, and rinse your nostrils with water before and after to reduce damage.
Shelving:
- Use Lubrication: Apply lubrication to avoid tearing, and use a condom or latex glove to prevent scratches. Wash your hands before and after use.
Injecting:
- Follow Safety Practices: Use sterile syringes and equipment, wash your hands thoroughly, and dispose of syringes responsibly.
Recognising and Responding to Overdose
Signs of Overdose:
- Extreme drowsiness
- Confusion or disorientation
- Slow or difficult breathing
- Loss of conciousness
Responding to Overdose:
- Call Emergency Services (000): Provide clear information about what was taken and the symptoms.
- Stay With the Person: Keep them calm and monitor their condition.
- Recovery Position: If unconscious but breathing, place them in the recovery position (on their side) to maintain an open airway and prevent choking.
Safe Management of Withdrawal
Managing Withdrawal:
- Medical Supervision: Seek medical advice before stopping benzodiazepine use, especially after long-term use.
- Supportive Care: Stay hydrated, eat well, and seek support from friends, family, or professional services.
High-Risk Combinations to Avoid
- Benzos and Alcohol: Increases the effects of each, leading to increased risk of respiratory depression and overdose.
- Benzos and Opioids: Increases the effects of each, leading to increased risk of respiratory depression and overdose.
- Benzos and Stimulants: Masks the effects of each, leading to risky behavious and potential overdose.