FADAA Substance Use Trend Alert: Increase in overdoses

FADAA (Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association) is a subsidiary of the Florida Behavioral Health Association and Florida Department of Children and Families. FADAA recently released a trend alert regarding an increase in overdoses as a result of benzodiazepine misuse in the US and Florida. Benzodiazepines, include medications like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan, are a class of antidepressants. They are prescribed to help with anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms, and reduction of seizures. Because of the popularity of these drugs, and how they’re often prescribed on a PRN basis, they’re commonly used as self medication. Additionally, they’re often mixed with alcohol or other substances to increase their relaxation effect. This combination can be lethal.

The noted trend describes the increase in overdose deaths resulting from combining benzodiazepines with opioids. The document is intended to be read and considered by prescribers, warning of the risk of prescribing benzodiazepines with opioids. However, as mental health professionals, we must do our diligence to ensure clients are aware of these risks. Even when we don’t think substance misuse is a concern we must ask what medications they take, prescribed and unprescribed.

View the data on this trend and the increase of benzodiazepine-involved deaths here.

If you want to better understand how mental health professionals can support patients with Opioid related issues, you can sign up for our Opioid Epidemic course.