"You Don't Feel": The experience of youth benzodiazepine misuse in Ireland.
Loading...
Date
2017-09-27
Authors
Murphy, Kevin D.
Lambert, Sharon
McCarthy, Suzanne
Sahm, Laura J
Byrne, Stephen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor and Francis
Published Version
Abstract
There are negative effects to inappropriate use of benzodiazepines, yet the percentage of young people in Ireland experimenting with benzodiazepines has increased. There is a paucity of research about why Irish young people misuse benzodiazepines. In this study, people between 18 and 25 years attending substance misuse services in the south of Ireland (N = 13) were interviewed in a semi-structured style between June 2012 and April 2013. Content analysis was performed. The main motivations for benzodiazepine misuse were to self-regulate negative emotions and to induce dissociation from their environment. Interviewees also described the consequences of benzodiazepine misuse, such as disengagement from family relationships and other protective environments such as school and sports clubs. The consequences of chronic misuse were discussed, such as the compulsion to take more benzodiazepines despite experiencing severe side-effects. The incidence of paradoxical aggression on benzodiazepines is also explored. Education about benzodiazepines and their risks to young people, families, and the public may reduce benzodiazepine misuse. Future research on the role of trauma and mental health in young people’s substance misuse is needed.
Description
Keywords
Adolescence , Benzodiazepines , Drug abuse , Emotional regulation , Self-medication
Citation
Murphy, K. D., Lambert, S., McCarthy, S., Sahm, L. J. and Byrne, S. (2018) '“You Don’t Feel”: The Experience of Youth Benzodiazepine Misuse in Ireland', Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, 50(2), pp. 121-128. doi: 10.1080/02791072.2017.1371365
Link to publisher’s version
Copyright
© 2018 Taylor & Francis Group LLC. This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Psychoactive Drugs on 27 Sep 2017 available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/02791072.2017.1371365