Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines (Benzos, Xanaz, Diazepam, Valium) is a medical drug used in management of anxiety, insomnia. It can be found as tablet, capsules or liquids for injection and is commonly known on the streets as benzos are diazepam, alprazolam, temazepam and phenazapam.
In the UK, Benzodiazepines have to be prescribed. When buying these on the street these will have been stolen from someone else or often even fake or cut with other drugs making the dose impossible to know.
How it is used
Benzodiazepines can be used or found as:
- capsules and tablets consumed like normal tablets
- suppositories which are inserted rectally
- alongside stimulant drugs to help with the come down
- by crushing tablets to inject them, this is extremely dangerous and can cause significant skin infections and gangrene
How it feels
Benzodiazepines is used to treat insomnia and anxiety main effects are relaxation an drowsiness.
Risks and the law
Risks
- Affects your nervous system, dampening it down, which can affect your breathing
- Extremely dangerous to mix with other drugs and alcohol because of its effects on your brain and nervous system making it very easy to overdose
- Users can have intense withdrawal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, headaches, sweating, visual challenges, anxiety, panic attacks, tremors, seizures
- Street benzos are incredibly risky because of high likelihood cut with other drugs or fake making dosing very difficult, hospitalisation very common
Staying safe
- If you decide to take benzos ensure someone is around when you take them
- Get them from a trusted source
- Don’t mix with other drugs
- Try a smaller dose (e.g a quarter or half a pill) and see the effects first
The law
- Class C drug
- Possession (without a legal prescription) can lead to up to 2 years in prison and/or unlimited fine
- Intent to supply can lead to up to 14 years in prison and/or unlimited fine