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<p>The Government is concerned about the impact of long term use of benzodiazepines
by National Health Service patients and other dependence forming medicines prescribed
in primary care. The National Centre for Social Research recently published <em>Prescribing
Patterns in Dependence Forming Medicines, </em>which reviewed data for 50,000 NHS
patients in England and looked at those who had been prescribed at least one of four
types of potentially addictive drugs - known as Dependence Forming Medicines - between
2000 and 2015. The data shows that potentially dependence forming medicines are widely
prescribed in primary care.</p><p> </p><p>The report highlights that a balance needs
to be struck between avoiding prescribing that might lead to dependence or other harms
and ensuring proper access to medicines to relieve suffering and treat disorders with.
The report notes that clinical guidance recommending more cautious and time limited
prescribing of benzodiazepines may well have been effective in changing practice,
with reductions in the extent and length of benzodiazepine prescribing. It also suggests
close and ongoing monitoring of opioid prescribing is needed. This independent research
was commissioned and funded by the National Institute for Health Research Policy Research
Programme. A copy of the report is attached.</p><p> </p><p>In the light of this research,
the Department has commissioned Public Health England to undertake an evidence review
to better understand the scope of the problem of prescribed drug dependence.</p><p>The
review will bring together the best available evidence on prevalence and prescribing;
the nature and likely causes of dependence or withdrawal among some people who continue
to take these medicines; and effective prevention and treatment responses for each
indication.</p><p>The recently-updated National Clinical Guidelines for Drug Misuse
and Dependence, <em>Drug misuse and dependence: UK guidelines on clinical management</em>,
have specific guidance about pharmacological management of dependence on benzodiazepines
and z-drugs, including prescribing regimens, detoxification, adjunctive therapies
and monitoring. The guidelines are attached.</p><p>There is relevant National Institute
for Health and Care Excellence guidance available for primary care prescribers for
example on benzodiazepine and z-drug withdrawal.</p><p> </p>
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