[Use of benzodiazepines and cannabis in young adults]

Abstract

Background: Physicians prescribe benzodiazepines more often to patients with high alcohol consumption than to others. Little is known about benzodiazepine prescription rates to people who use illicit substances. In this cross-sectional study we examined the association between use of cannabis and prescription of benzodiazepines in young adults.

Material and methods: Data were analyzed on use of cannabis and prescription of benzodiazepines among 2606 participants in the survey "Young in Norway longitudinal" (YiN). Data from YiN and the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD) were merged. Anxiety was measured by use of 6 items from the Symptom Checklist-25. Other explanatory variables that were examined were age, sex and urbanity.

Results: 55 (2.1 %) participants had received at least one benzodiazepine prescription. Benzodiazepine prescription was significantly associated with frequent cannabis use (OR 4.2) and high level of anxiety (OR 8.5). The patients' sex, age and urbanity had no impact on benzodiazepine prescription.

Interpretation: Cannabis users receive more benzodiazepine prescriptions than others. They may have other motives than symptom relief (e.g. euphoric effects) for their benzodiazepine use.