Globe and Mail (CA): "Opioid overuse is creating ‘lost generation,’ expert says"

This Globe and Mail article highlights the role of the prescriber in the deaths of those who take opioid medications. And while benzodiazepines by themselves don't usually kill people, there are so many similarities between benzos and opioids in how the dependency arises.

I hope that one day soon, the massive degree of physical dependency and accompanying risks of benzos will be recognized in the same way that we're seeing with opioids. Will many more people have to go through horrible withdrawal syndromes before that takes place?

Here's a key quote from the article, in which the word "opioids" could be replaced by the word "benzodiazepines":

"Dr. Heidi Oetter, registrar of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia, said physicians have to respect guidelines for prescribing opioids and be vigilant to avoid causing harm.

“It’s not good enough to be naive,” she said. “You are the prescriber, you have to be responsible.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/opioid-overuse-is-creating-lost-generation-expert-says/article31547148/