Indicators of Benzodiazepines use and dependence in Albania

Background: Benzodiazepines are a large class of drugs and are used for treating different clinical conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, epilepsy, alcohol withdrawal syndrome, additive therapy in bipolar syndrome, etc. Like all drugs, they have side effects, but they can also lead to abuse and dependence. This study aims to provide qualitative evidence on the use of Benzodiazepines and find if the Albanian population has a tendency to develop a dependence on these drugs.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted including a sample of Albanian BDZs' chronic users. For this purpose, a two-part questionnaire was self-administrated. The sampling technique used was stratified cluster sampling in five Albanian regions. The statistical program SPSS 26 was used to analyze the data, and statistical significance was set at ≤0.05.

Results: The most commonly used drugs are Diazepam, Lorazepam, and Alprazolam. Anxiety and insomnia are the two most common reasons for using a Benzodiazepine. Users living in the Tirana region, that take these drugs for insomnia treatment and have taken the drugs for the last time without a medical prescription are associated with a higher risk of being potentially dependent or dependent.

Conclusions: There is a need for a promotion strategy related to awareness of Benzodiazepine use and the need to consult a doctor when and how to use them.