Benzodiazepine abuse in patients of doctors in domiciliary practice in the Basle area

In the city of Basle with a catchment area of 300,000 inhabitants a significant number of physicians were asked for observations concerning benzodiazepine abuse by their patients. In 1985, 31 patients abusing benzodiazepine only were observed, which represents an incidence of 1:10,000 or 0.01%. In addition, concrete information on 88 patients with multiple abuse was obtained. Demographic data, diagnosis and main reason of abuse, data on most frequently abused drugs, consequences of abuse, as well as measures against the abused are described in relation to the two main groups of abusers.