Benzodiazepines

Desired Effects:

• Relaxation
• reduced anxiety
• euphoria
• Benzodiazepines are all sedating and will induce sleep, but effects vary between different benzodiazepines. Some start to work faster and/have effects that go on for longer or are far more potent than others. For instance, alprazolam (Sold under the brand name Xanax) is approximately 20 times as potent as diazepam, while temazepam is approximately half the potency of diazepam

Side Effects:

• Drowsiness
• loss of coordination
• slurred speech
• confusion
• memory loss

• Street benzodiazepines are some of the most adulterated drugs in the UK. Many are fakes and may contain a higher or lower dose, a more potent benzodiazepine or contain another drug altogether.
• Beware of the risk of addiction. If used daily for just a matter of weeks’ benzodiazepines can cause dependence.
• For people who have become dependent on benzodiazepines, stopping suddenly can lead to severe psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms. You should seek medical assistance and advice before stopping.
• Benzodiazepines can lead to overdose, particularly if used with opioids like heroin or methadone or other depressant drugs like alcohol.
• If you are using heroin or other depressant drugs at the same time as benzodiazepines: Don’t use alone (as there is nobody to help if you overdose); Always have naloxone available. Naloxone will not reverse the effects of benzodiazepines, but it will reverse the effects of any opioids taken.  
• If somebody overdoses, call an ambulance, and stay with them. Hospitals can use a drug that reverse the effect of a benzodiazepine overdose.
• Benzodiazepines are only prescribed for a few weeks because of the risk of dependence.
• Using street benzodiazepines to cope with feeling of anxiety is very risky. It is better to seek help from your GP or a professional service who may prescribe in the short term and offer you access to long term treatments that are more effective.
• Never inject benzodiazepines. They can cause serious damage to veins and soft tissue.

Short term risks

Tolerance, accidents, potential for overdose if combined with alcohol.

Desired risks

Relaxation, reduced anxiety, euphoria.

Long term risks

Dependence, withdrawal symptoms , agoraphobia, panic attacks, severe anxiety.

Long term risks:

• Dependence. If stopping suddenly, severe withdrawal symptoms.
• Significant physical and mental risks associated with the long-term use.

Short term risks:

• Accidents. Using benzodiazepines can leave you vulnerable and at risk of abuse or exploitation.
• Overdose  and death. In 2024 in England and Wales, 21 deaths were associated with benzodiazepines without the involvement of any other drugs. However, the risk of overdose is greatly increased if they are used with opioid drugs like heroin and methadone or other depressant drug like alcohol. In 2024 there were 629 deaths involving benzodiazepines used with other drugs or alcohol, most commonly opioids.

• Benzodiazepines are a class of drug prescribed for anxiety and to induce sleep. Legitimate UK prescribed benzodiazepines come in branded boxes containing blister packs with tablets or capsules inside.
• Fake benzodiazepines sold on the illicit market may be sold loose in snap bags, sometimes these are poorly made. However, fake benzodiazepines can also come in fake branded boxes containing blister packs. It is often impossible to tell these fakes apart from legitimate medicines just by looking at them.
• Some fakes contain a different and sometimes far more potent benzodiazepine other than the one stated on the packaging. Some fakes have contained a range of other, sometimes far more dangerous drugs. In the last year some street benzodiazepines have been found to contain potent synthetic opioids. Street benzodiazepines are also sold in powdered form.
• Street benzodiazepines are also sold in powdered form in snap bags.

• Mainly orally.
• The powder or crushed tablets are sometimes snorted.
• Benzodiazepines are given intravenously in medical settings but are very rarely injected as street drugs as they have a high filler content that is extremely damaging to veins and soft tissue.
• Benzodiazepines can be taken rectally (up the bum) in medical settings, although this is not popular method of use as a street drug.
• There are reports of people preparing them in e-liquid and vaping them.

• Generic brands are imported from other countries.
• Fakes are brought on the street or in shops.
• Legitimate medication may come from diverted supplies or obtained from GPs or online prescriptions.
• Street benzodiazepines may be fake versions of prescription benzodiazepines, or they may be ‘novel’ benzodiazepines that are solely made for use as street drugs in labs in countries like China. These can include benzodiazepines that have had a slight chemical change to get around the laws such like flu-alprazolam, which is like alprazolam.
• The benzodiazepine used in these fakes changes rapidly. The most common ones currently appearing in UK fakes are bromazolam and flubromazolam.

Parents & other relatives

Many drug agencies also provide lots of advice and support to parents, family members and partners of people using drugs. They may provide relative support groups or advice, guidance and counselling on a one to one basis.