Table 3.
Characteristics of Benzodiazepine Misuse Among Younger and Older Adults
| Respondents with BZD misuse (n=2,533) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Weighted % |
Age 18-49y (n=2,357) Weighted % |
Age ≥50y (n=176) Weighted % |
ORa | 95% CI | p-value | |
| Type of Misuse | ||||||
| Without a prescription | 73.9 | 78.4 | 56.4 | .36 | .25-.51 | <.001 |
| Used in greater amounts than prescribed | 16.0 | 15.0 | 20.2 | 1.44 | .86-2.40 | .16 |
| Used more often than prescribed | 10.1 | 8.1 | 17.9 | 2.47 | 1.57-3.90 | <.001 |
| Used longer than prescribed | 4.9 | 4.7 | 5.7 | 1.24 | .62-2.48 | .53 |
| Used in other ways other than as directed | 18.7 | 17.6 | 23.2 | 1.41 | .90-2.21 | .13 |
| Main reason for misuse | ||||||
| Relax/relieve tension | 47.1 | 48.6 | 41.7 | .76 | .53-1.08 | .12 |
| Experiment | 6.0 | 6.5 | 4.0 | .59 | .21-1.68 | .28 |
| Get high | 11.6 | 13.9 | 3.0 | .19 | .07-.56 | .003 |
| Help with sleep | 26.6 | 22.4 | 41.7 | 2.48 | 1.83-3.35 | <.001 |
| Help with feelings/emotions | 10.1 | 10.4 | 9.1 | .86 | .43-1.76 | .68 |
| Increase or decrease effects of another drug | 1.6 | 1.7 | .9 | .51 | .11-2.35 | .38 |
| Hooked or have to have it | .6 | .5 | .9 | 1.89 | .17-20.72 | .60 |
| Source of medication for misuse | ||||||
| 1 clinician | 19.5 | 14.3 | 38.4 | 3.73 | 2.65-5.26 | <.001 |
| ≥2 clinicians | .9 | .6 | 1.9 | 3.27 | .87-12.29 | .08 |
| Stolen from healthcare setting | .1 | .2 | .0 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Free from friend or relative | 53.2 | 55.4 | 45.1 | .66 | .44-.99 | .04 |
| Bought from friend or relative | 12.3 | 14.2 | 5.6 | .35 | .15-.84 | .02 |
| Stolen from friend or relative | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 1.08 | .31-3.81 | .90 |
| Bought from dealer or stranger | 7.7 | 8.9 | 3.1 | .33 | .10-1.07 | .06 |
| Medication of misuse | ||||||
| Alprazolam | 75.1 | 80.3 | 56.4 | .32 | .21-.49 | <.001 |
| Lorazepam | 15.4 | 12.6 | 26.0 | 2.44 | 1.54-3.87 | <.001 |
| Clonazepam | 20.0 | 21.7 | 13.6 | .57 | .33-1.00 | .05 |
| Diazepam | 20.5 | 17.8 | 30.5 | 2.04 | 1.21-3.43 | .009 |
| Other characteristics of BZD misuse | ||||||
| Average days of misuse in past month, mean | 5.4 | 5.0 | 7.1 | 2.10 | −.30-4.51 | .09 |
| Meets past year criteria for abuse (ref: no) | 4.6 | 5.0 | 3.1 | .60 | .20-1.78 | .35 |
| Meets past year criteria for dependence (ref: no) | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.6 | .97 | .50-1.90 | .94 |
BZD: benzodiazepine; OR: odds ratio; CI: confidence interval
a
The odds ratio reports the odds of a specific misuse characteristic (i.e., a table row) among adults ≥50y compared to younger adults (18-49y) as the reference group. For example, the odds of misuse without a prescription among older adults relative to younger adults is .36.