Experts have warned of a “tidal wave” of demand for illegal versions of benzodiazepine as the number of deaths linked to the anxiety drug tripled in a year.
Government figures show there were 171 deaths linked to “street benzos” in 2021 – up from 62 in 2020.
Legal benzodiazepine drugs, such as diazepam and temazepam, are generally prescribed to treat anxiety and insomnia, as well as physical issues like muscle spasms.
But they can be addictive so are recommended for short-term use only.
GP prescriptions fell in England, from 11.3m in 2010 to 8.6m in 2020.
But experts say more people are buying street benzos – putting themselves at risk of drug dependency.
Martin Powell from the Transform Drug Policy Foundation said there is now a black market “providing dirt-cheap but potentially fatal versions of these drugs”.
He added: “It’s a tidal wave and I am genuinely scared.”
Pharmacist Lorraine Maden, of drug, alcohol and mental health charity With You, said: “Some people...struggle when their prescription ends.
“Some look to obtain the same medication from a friend or neighbour, or going online.
“But these illicit versions can also contain synthetic analogues....meaning they’re more dangerous and pose a higher risk of overdose.”
Electrician Billy Davies got hooked on street benzos three years ago after his diazepam prescription ended.
The 35-year-old from Wigan had been suffering from stress and struggled without his tablets.
He said: “I got some on the black market. I couldn’t see a problem in carrying on taking a medication which my GP had prescribed.”
But the street benzos contained double his usual daily dose and Billy started taking more and more.
He said: “Before I knew it, I was out of control.” With help from an addiction specialist he is now weaning himself off the medication and hopes to be clean in a few months.
Some who use legal benzodiazepines get hooked for years.
Jo Gunn, of Brighton, was prescribed diazepam 15 years ago to ease pain from fibromyalgia and back problems.
She said: “About 10 years ago I tried to go cold turkey, but I was up all night, scratching at my skin in the bath, shaking with cold.”
Jo, 55, is now weaning herself off gradually, with supervision. But she warned: “It’s important people go into taking benzos – even when prescribed by a GP – with their eyes open.”
Jo Halsey, 51, from Hull, is also trying to reduce her use of diazepam, which she was prescribed 13 years ago for anxiety after she lost twins at 28 weeks.
She said: “I had no idea then how addictive they were. They worked in the early days but soon the same dose didn’t have the same effect and I needed more.”
“Luckily I never had to turn to the black market, but it’s still been incredibly difficult.”
For anyone affected, seek advice and support from your GP or visit wearewithyou.org.uk where you can speak to someone on the With You charity's webchat.
