Table 3.

Main issues around benzodiazepine prescribing raised by the PWLE group

Main areas of concern from the PWLE Group
Benzodiazepine prescribing	Fear around reducing benzodiazepines	Lack of psychosocial support and communication
• Prescribing has been reduced but there doesn’t seem to be a ‘plan of action’ on how to do this or alternatives • No support on reducing/stopping benzodiazepine use (prescribed or street) • Postcode lottery around benzodiazepine prescribing-didn’t want to move to a different GP in case they lost their prescription • Left on the same ‘maintenance dose’ for prolonged periods of time with no next steps discussed • Cutting off prescriptions as they are believed to be risky or dangerous is ‘ridiculous’ due to the availability	• Fear of raising the subject of talking to care providers about reducing for fear of having their prescription stopped immediately • Fear of starting these conversations as there is little/no support for stopping benzodiazepine use • ‘Scared if you reach out, scared if you don’t’ • Fear of telling GP/addiction services of any illicit drug use in case they lose their current prescription • Fear around seeking treatment/support in the first place because of anonymity issues, once they have approached services their drug use is recorded, worries around stigma that could arise in the future as a result	• Feelings that doctors are ‘closed door’, not willing to discuss options • People are given reduction plans but no trauma work, psychosocial support while doses are reduced • Trauma is rarely dealt with – offered prescriptions which are slowly reduced over time, but because the original trauma and/or anxiety was never handled, it often results in further illicit use • Psychosocial support is required to help these individuals. There is poor communication between prescribers/service providers and people who use drugs