The Times (London): Benzodiazepine articles and related letters, 2012-2014

Here are 20 articles related to the topic of benzodiazepines from The Times, London, UK, between 2012 and the present. With a couple exceptions, they are in reverse chronological order, i.e. moving backwards from the most recent article. Because it's necessary to have a subscription in order to access a full article, these are introductory paragraphs only. I've also included a few letters to the editor.

 

 

1.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/mental-health/article4247472.ece

2.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/americas/article4020270.ece

3.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/mental-health/article3996946.ece

4.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/dr-mark-porter/article3950773.ece

5.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3924489.ece

6.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3701440.ece

7.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3664213.ece

8.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3650504.ece

9.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3658781.ece

10.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/science/medicine/article3621834.ece

11.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article3562046.ece

12.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article3559970.ece

13.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/opinion/letters/article3555084.ece

14.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3554168.ece

15.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3554165.ece

16.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3560311.ece

17.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3555369.ece

18.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/health/news/article3555353.ece

19.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article3516164.ece

20.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/magazine/article3369639.ece

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Lapis. That's a lot of articles! Wonder if the US or Canada are covering these stories like the UK is.

Last year, I did a bunch of research, looking at various newspapers for coverage of this topic. Some papers don't allow access due to a pay wall, so I couldn't access everything I wanted. The Telegraph (also UK) had a number of articles that I've saved as well. On the North American side, I did some searches and came across a few things, but I'm not well-versed in the US papers. Here in Canada, I did find some articles as well, and I've shared a few in this section.

 

Anyway, what it shows me is an awareness of the problem in the UK that I believe is unparalleled elsewhere. But if anyone has info that tells otherwise, I'd be pleased to hear it. The more awareness, the closer we are -- hopefully -- to changing and preventing what's happening.

I think one reason there is more exposure in the UK has been the concerted effort of Jim Dobbins/APPGITA (All Party Parlimentary Group for Involuntary Tranquelisrr Addiction)

 

He was a member of the house of commons and i cant remember if it was he or someone he knew who had issues with benzos. Sadly he died recently and we've lost a powerful advocate.  Check out http://www.appgita.com/

Yes! I've followed that group a bit and have been heartened to see awareness at that level of government. I'm hoping for good things. Perhaps others will follow, e.g. other commonwealth countries. Maybe? Please?

Here in the states we had the Maine Benzodiazepine Study Group  http://benzo.une.edu/ but either its now closed or not very active.  Not sure what else is here.

 

Lapis i really appreciate all of your effort to gather all this info.

 

It's my pleasure to share what I've gathered with everyone here. Last year, before I joined BB, I was on a hunt to learn as much as I could about the issue. The result is a huge whack o' stuff (to put it in technical terms) stored in my computer and in a fat file. BB provides a priceless service to all of us, so I'm glad to give a little bit to others -- especially if it helps anyone understand things better.

Thanks Lapis - great work and very encouraging to all of us.

 

Here in the US, there is very little comparable press coverage. There has been some coverage about the recent Alzheimer's study, but that's about it. In some states, the prescribing regulations have been tightened, so we'll soon be seeing more botched tapers,  and thus maybe more awareness 

 

I am seeing a PDoc at Vanderbilt (respected teaching hospital in Nashville) next month - he did an interesting study re: Doctor Suicides - a big cause is benzo addiction. And many of the doctors that self prescribe, also subscribe to their patients. I'm hopeful that I can at least find ONE doctor that gets it. Too little, too late for me but hopefully some progress.

 

http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2014/08/study-examines-factors-that-boost-suicide-risk-for-doctors/

 

Great article, Qui! It's an issue I was curious about because I'm sure it's hard to get the statistics on how widespread it is. Also, I was thinking that a doctor who had taken benzos long-term and gone through a bad withdrawal would be a credible spokesperson on the topic that binds us here together.

Great article, Qui! It's an issue I was curious about because I'm sure it's hard to get the statistics on how widespread it is. Also, I was thinking that a doctor who had taken benzos long-term and gone through a bad withdrawal would be a credible spokesperson on the topic that binds us here together.

 

Hi Lapis, i doubt if you will find a handful of Doctors who had gone through a bad wd.

no way, i know of two cases here, they prefered to leave the planet.

 

keep up the good work please, interesting, thank you.

 

 

I'm just putting it out there as an idea, but I'm aware that it's unlikely to find such a doctor.

 

I'm thinking of an issue that has been highly controversial here -- that of assisted suicide. When a well-respected doctor here in Canada was facing certain death due to a brain tumour, he created a YouTube video in his final days. Apparently, he had wanted to have assisted suicide but was unable to do so here, and his video was a moving piece of film for all of us. That video opened up the conversation once again with a new perspective. He understood the issue from all sides. It was SO powerful.