Use of alprazolam amongst the young could be on the increase

Researchers have analysed data from 10,019 respondents to the 2017 RADARS Survey of Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs, and have identified that the use of benzodiazepine alprazolam (Xanax), particularly amongst younger people, could be increasing. This drug cannot be obtained on the NHS, but can be obtained with a private prescription. The estimated lifetime non-medical use of alprazolam was 0.32% versus 1.30% for diazepam. The rate of recent use was highest among those aged 16–24 years (0.37%) and 25–34 years (0.14%), and almost zero in those surveyed over the age of 34.

The researchers said they needed to undertake further research to find out why this drug is so appealing to this demographic, as “this will enable appropriate public health interventions to prevent short‐term toxicity and long‐term dependence among young adults who are regularly using alprazolam.”