Examining racial/ethnic differences in patterns of benzodiazepine prescription and misuse.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) are widely prescribed during psychiatric treatment. Unfortunately, their misuse has led to recent surges in overdose emergency visits and drug-related deaths.

Methods

Electronic health record data from a large healthcare system were used to describe racial/ethnic, sex, and age differences in BZD use and dependence. Among patients with a BZD prescription, we assessed differences in the likelihood of subsequently receiving a BZD dependence diagnosis, number of BZD prescriptions, receiving only one BZD prescription, and receiving 18 or more BZD prescriptions. We also estimated multivariate hazard models and generalized linear models, assessing racial/ethnic differences after adjustment for covariates.

Results

In both unadjusted and adjus

SUBMITTER: Cook B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5959774 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature