[Abuse of benzodiazepines among heroin addicts in Copenhagen]

Abuse of benzodiazepines among heroin addicts in Copenhagen. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent of benzodiazepine abuse among heroin addicts, and to examine whether the heroin addicts with and without benzodiazepine abuse differed socially and psychiatrically. Social and medical information was drawn from the records for 98 heroin addicts who were registered for treatment at the institution Distriktscenter Vestre between 1.2-30.9.1994. Information about psychiatric admissions was taken from the Danish Psychiatric Register. The results showed that the heroin addicts with and without benzodiazepine abuse do not differ with regard to psychiatric data and basic demographic data. However, addicts with concomitant benzodiazepine ab-use were worse off concerning housing conditions, employment criminal records and amount and type of heroin abuse, and are thus in need of a more concerted treatment effort.