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Use of Benzodiazepines in the Nordic Countries in the 1960s and 1970s *
Author(s) -
Hemminki Elina,
Bruun Kettil,
Jensen Thor øivind
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
british journal of addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0952-0481
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1983.tb02530.x
Subject(s) - consumption (sociology) , medicine , psychiatry , drug , adverse effect , environmental health , business , public economics , economics , pharmacology , social science , sociology
Summary Since their introduction on the market, sales of benzodiazepines have continuously increased in Finland, Norway and Sweden. The overall trends and the level of consumption show great similarities in the three countries. Benzodiazepines can be substituted by other drugs, and here we found remarkable differences between the countries, both as regards trends in the level of sales of all sedatives, and all psychotropic drugs, too. The information given by the industry has been biased: wide indications have been promoted and adverse effects have been neglected. Our survey of patients belonging to a psychiatric patients’society found that many adverse reactions were felt by patients, and regular users had experienced serious problems when they tried to stop using benzodiazepines. We argue that the level of consumption might provide an important indicator for determining the goals of drug policy. But models to advise how consumption levels should be used for drug policy strategy should be developed.