Benzodiazepine drugs including Valium added to Alberta monitoring program

Valium and xanax (Photo from Flickr/Dean812)

CALGARY – The Alberta College of Physicians and Surgeons has added benzodiazepines such as Ativan and Valium to its Triplicate Prescription Program over concern the drugs are being increasingly abused.

College spokeswoman Kelly Eby says they’re an easy way for people to get high.

The program was set up in 1989 to monitor the prescribing and dispensing of high risk prescription medications.

There are currently dozens of medications monitored by the program, including powerful opiate pain relievers such as Oxycodone and stimulant ADHD medications such as Ritalin.

In 2016, all codeine-containing products, including Tylenol 3 and 4, will also be added to the list.

According to the college, there were half a million prescriptions for benzodiazepines issued in Alberta in 2013.

Kim Bush, the associate director of counselling for the Calgary Counselling Centre, says the drugs can be very addictive and those with dependencies often combine the medications with alcohol.

“If people are using (a drug like Ativan) every day, it’s like taking a stiff drink, so people get dependent on it,” said Bush. “If they go off it, what happens is they end up with rebound panic attacks or rebound anxiety, because their body is no longer able to cope.

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The Canadian Mental Health Association said combined with depression, anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in Alberta. Bush said while drugs can be very helpful for patients to manage spikes in their illness, patients should seek other strategies long-term.

“You need to find coping mechanisms to manage your anxiety on a daily basis so you’re not relying on pills,” said Bush.