The Use of Tranquillizers Among Women Undergoing Substance-Abuse Treatment

Abstract

Overuse of tranquillizers (e.g., Valium, Ativan, Xanax) is frequently overlooked in substance-abuse treatment. This paper presents findings on the prevalence and frequency of tranquillizer use and concurrent substance use in women undergoing substance-abuse treatment. Ninety-eight women in 9 short-term, residential, women-only treatment centres in the province of Ontario, Canada, completed questionnaires assessing their pre-treatment substance use. Forty-three percent reported that they used tranquillizers in the 6 months preceding their treatment, and 70% of these reported using tranquillizers at least 2 to 4 times per week. Duration of use ranged from 1 month to 20 years, with an average of 4 years. The majority of participants (86%) reported using at least 1 other substance in addition to tranquillizers. The findings suggest that a significant proportion of women in substance-abuse treatment may be dependent on tranquillizers in addition to other substances. Implications for the intervention of tranquillizer overuse in substance-abuse treatment settings are discussed. Keywords: women, substance use, substance abuse, addiction, dependency, tranquillizers, benzodiazepines, treatment