Benzodiazepine (ab)use and addictive potential: Analyses of consumption in Serbia for the period 2014-2016

Benzodiazepines, as substances of abuse or recreational drugs, have largely suppressed the use of barbiturates, methaqualone and glutethimide. The advantage of benzodiazepines, used for medical use or abuse, compared with older drugs is certainly a safer profile and lower risk of serious toxic effects after overdose. Benzodiazepines are much safer drugs in the case of overdose compared with barbiturates, however they also have a number of side effects, including the development of tolerance and dependence. Short-term benzodiazepines, such as lorazepam, bromazepam and alprazolam, have the greatest addictive potential and they are the most commonly used anxiolytics in our population. The benzodiazepine consumption analysis in our country points to possible irrational prescribing and abuse. Benzodiazepines research and analysis of the consequences of their long-term use are aimed on changing patients' attitude, education, and raising awareness of better control of prescribing these medicines by healthcare professionals. In recent years an intensive research has been carried out to discover selective anxiolytic agents that will provide the same or similar efficacy and tolerability with less side effects.