Scotland is facing significant challenges due to the problematic use of benzodiazepines, often in combination with other drugs. Recent changes in the type and range of street benzodiazepines; local pill manufacture leading to increased supply and reduced prices are driving overdose deaths. In 2019, street benzodiazepines, in combination with other substances, most often opioids, were implicated in 64% of the 1264 drug-related deaths in Scotland.

In the context of increasing benzodiazepine-related mortality, the lack of robust clinical guidance, and emerging but inequitably distributed clinical experience, there is a need to develop a Scottish response to address the harms associated with benzodiazepine use.

The new Scottish Government’s Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Standards aim to drive access, choice and evidence-based support in drug treatment and care. There is a pressing need to adopt this approach in relation to benzodiazepines. This webinar introduced actions from the Drug Deaths Taskforce’s Benzodiazepine Working Group to develop a national treatment guideline and reach consensus on person-centred approaches to the management of benzodiazepine use and related harms.

This event featured presentations from:

- Andrew McAuley, Senior Epidemiologist, Public Health Scotland and Senior Research Fellow, Glasgow Caledonian University

- Joe Schofield, Research Fellow, University of Stirling

- Claire Campbell, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Aberdeenshire Integrated Drug and Alcohol Service (AIDAS) and Clinical Psychologist in Dundee Drug and alcohol recovery service, NHS Tayside

- Isabel Traynor, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Head of NHS Fife Addictions Psychological Therapies Service (APTS), Chair of Lead Psychologists in Addiction Services in Scotland (LPASS)

- Trina Ritchie, Lead Clinician and Senior Medical Officer, Glasgow Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services

This event was hosted by Scottish Drugs Forum and the Benzodiazepine Working Group of the Drug Deaths Taskforce and chaired by Dave Liddell, CEO, Scottish Drugs Forum. The webinar was held on 25 June 2021.