ORN Webinar Fall 2021 #1 - Benzodiazepines and Opioid Maintenance Treatment: The Risks and the Benefits-Event Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The webinar featured Dr. Tae-Woo Park discussing benzodiazepines and opioid maintenance treatment. He highlighted the risks and benefits associated with this treatment approach. The study discussed in the webinar examined the prevalence of benzodiazepine co-prescribing among people receiving methadone or buprenorphine treatment in the VA system. The study found significant variation in co-prescribing across different geographical areas. Further studies explored the risks of benzodiazepine co-prescribing, including an increased risk of aberrant drug behaviors and overdose death. Dr. Park also discussed a qualitative study that examined the motivations and understanding of patients and clinicians regarding benzodiazepine use in opioid maintenance treatment. The study found that patients often used benzodiazepines to feel calmer and manage anxiety, while clinicians were more concerned about the potential risks. Practical approaches to prescribing benzodiazepines in opioid maintenance treatment were also discussed, including assessing the risks and benefits, monitoring patients closely, and considering alternative treatments. Dr. Park concluded by emphasizing the need for a risk-benefit framework and individualized approaches to address the challenges of prescribing benzodiazepines in this context.

Keywords

benzodiazepines

opioid maintenance treatment

risks and benefits

geographical variation

aberrant drug behaviors

qualitative study

calmer and manage anxiety

practical approaches

risk-benefit framework