Benzodiazepine use in the population aged 18 to 40 years in the municipality of  Bijelo Polje

Vasilije  Boskovic; Jelena Vlaovic Boskovic; Olgica B Mihaljevic; Jelena Djordjevic; Filip Tomovic; Batric Babovic

dr Vasilije Boskovic Clinic for Nephrology, Clinical Center of Montenegro,Podgorica, Montenegro
dr Jelena Vlaovic Boskovic General Hospital Niksic, Niksic, Montenegro
Olgica B Mihaljevic Univerzitet u Kragujevcu, Fakultet Medicinskih nauka, Institut za patolosku fiziologiju
dr Jelena Djordjevic University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia, Faculty of Medical Science, Department of Pathophysiology
dr Filip Tomovic Clinic for Nephrology, Clinical Center of Montenegro,Podgorica, Montenegro
dr Batric Babovic Clinic for Nephrology, Clinical Center of Montenegro,Podgorica, Montenegro

Keywords: abuse; benzodiazepines; drug addiction

Abstract

Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the pattern of benzodiazepines' use in young adults in the municipality of Bijelo Polje, Montenegro.

Methods: The investigation was conducted as a cross-sectional study which involved 80 subjects of both gender aged between 18 and 40 years. The data were collected using self-administered survey questionnaire, consisted of 14 closed-ended questions related to sociodemographic characteristics and behavioural patterns with benzodiazepines' consumption.

Results: More than half of study population confirmed the usage of benzodiazepines (55%). There were statistically significant differences in the duration of drug use so that the most frequent period was 1‒5 years (p= 0.025). Study participants claimed that they often used benzodiazepines optionally (43.18%), and in some stressful events (29.56%). The manner of drug supply varied significantly (p= 0.010). The majority of study population applied a drug dose of less than one milligram per day (22.72%), less than 2 milligrams per day in stressful circumstances (25%). The most common way of drug supplying was via prescription (36.36%) and taking it from family members (27.29%%). The analysis of the awareness of possible drug addiction indicated significant differences in attitudes of participants (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: A high frequency of benzodiazepine use with a specific common pattern in consumption requires the improvement of health policy measures in the area of the drug abuse and possible development of addiction.