Study finds patients overprescribed with anti-anxiety drugs

[Guest guest]

The Associated Press State & Local Wire

The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated

Press. These materials may not be republished without the

express written consent of The Associated Press.

January 15, 2004, Thursday, BC cycle

2:17 AM Eastern Time

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 451 words

HEADLINE: Study finds patients overprescribed with anti-anxiety drugs

DATELINE: CONCORD, N.H.

BODY:

Medicaid patients with mental illness and substance abuse problems are being

overprescribed for anti-anxiety drugs, according to a New Hampshire-based study.

The study in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found

that some of the same Medicaid beneficiaries were getting higher potency and

faster acting versions of benzodiazepine, marketed as Valium, Xanex or Halcion.

Of the 40 million poor Americans with Medicaid benefits a substantial number

qualifies for the drugs.

The study, released Wednesday, examined claims filed by 9,884 Medicaid

patients from New Hampshire, ages 18 to 64 between 1995 and 1999.

" The findings have national implications because New Hampshire's Medicaid

population is not largely different from that in other states, " a news release

on the study said.

While the drugs can reduce anxiety, agitation and sleeplessness, they also

can interact with alcohol and other abused substances to increase intoxication

and the likelihood of addiction to benzodiazepines, the study said.

The study found that individuals with bipolar or other psychiatric disorders,

who also had substance use disorders (SUD), " were prescribed significantly

higher dosages of benzodiazepine than their counterparts without SUD.

" Patients with schizophrenia and those suffering from major depression along

with SUD were getting nominally higher doses than those without SUD, " according

to the author of the study, Robin of the Center for Health Policy and

Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Shrewsbury.

urged health care professionals and policy makers to " reassess

prescribing practices for benzodiazepine for mentally ill persons with substance

abuse problems. "

He said there is no definitive answer as to why physicians are

overprescribing the drugs for mentally ill individuals with substance abuse

problems, although the addictive potential of the drug is noted on the package

insert.

The study also found that individuals with major depression or other

psychiatric disorders, who also had SUD, were significantly more likely to use

fast-acting high-potency medications than those without SUD, said.

said his study was limited to diagnosed cases of severe substance abuse

among patients with mental illness, which could " underestimate " the true extent

of benzodiazepine prescription.

The study was conducted when was at the Dartmouth Medical School in

Hanover. He since has since joined the University of Massachusetts Medical

School.

The Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of The Wood

Foundation funded 's research.

---

On The Web:

www.saprp.org

www.rwjf.org

LOAD-DATE: January 15, 2004

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

The Associated Press State & Local Wire

The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated

Press. These materials may not be republished without the

express written consent of The Associated Press.

January 15, 2004, Thursday, BC cycle

2:17 AM Eastern Time

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 451 words

HEADLINE: Study finds patients overprescribed with anti-anxiety drugs

DATELINE: CONCORD, N.H.

BODY:

Medicaid patients with mental illness and substance abuse problems are being

overprescribed for anti-anxiety drugs, according to a New Hampshire-based study.

The study in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found

that some of the same Medicaid beneficiaries were getting higher potency and

faster acting versions of benzodiazepine, marketed as Valium, Xanex or Halcion.

Of the 40 million poor Americans with Medicaid benefits a substantial number

qualifies for the drugs.

The study, released Wednesday, examined claims filed by 9,884 Medicaid

patients from New Hampshire, ages 18 to 64 between 1995 and 1999.

" The findings have national implications because New Hampshire's Medicaid

population is not largely different from that in other states, " a news release

on the study said.

While the drugs can reduce anxiety, agitation and sleeplessness, they also

can interact with alcohol and other abused substances to increase intoxication

and the likelihood of addiction to benzodiazepines, the study said.

The study found that individuals with bipolar or other psychiatric disorders,

who also had substance use disorders (SUD), " were prescribed significantly

higher dosages of benzodiazepine than their counterparts without SUD.

" Patients with schizophrenia and those suffering from major depression along

with SUD were getting nominally higher doses than those without SUD, " according

to the author of the study, Robin of the Center for Health Policy and

Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Shrewsbury.

urged health care professionals and policy makers to " reassess

prescribing practices for benzodiazepine for mentally ill persons with substance

abuse problems. "

He said there is no definitive answer as to why physicians are

overprescribing the drugs for mentally ill individuals with substance abuse

problems, although the addictive potential of the drug is noted on the package

insert.

The study also found that individuals with major depression or other

psychiatric disorders, who also had SUD, were significantly more likely to use

fast-acting high-potency medications than those without SUD, said.

said his study was limited to diagnosed cases of severe substance abuse

among patients with mental illness, which could " underestimate " the true extent

of benzodiazepine prescription.

The study was conducted when was at the Dartmouth Medical School in

Hanover. He since has since joined the University of Massachusetts Medical

School.

The Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of The Wood

Foundation funded 's research.

---

On The Web:

www.saprp.org

www.rwjf.org

LOAD-DATE: January 15, 2004

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

The Associated Press State & Local Wire

The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated

Press. These materials may not be republished without the

express written consent of The Associated Press.

January 15, 2004, Thursday, BC cycle

2:17 AM Eastern Time

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 451 words

HEADLINE: Study finds patients overprescribed with anti-anxiety drugs

DATELINE: CONCORD, N.H.

BODY:

Medicaid patients with mental illness and substance abuse problems are being

overprescribed for anti-anxiety drugs, according to a New Hampshire-based study.

The study in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found

that some of the same Medicaid beneficiaries were getting higher potency and

faster acting versions of benzodiazepine, marketed as Valium, Xanex or Halcion.

Of the 40 million poor Americans with Medicaid benefits a substantial number

qualifies for the drugs.

The study, released Wednesday, examined claims filed by 9,884 Medicaid

patients from New Hampshire, ages 18 to 64 between 1995 and 1999.

" The findings have national implications because New Hampshire's Medicaid

population is not largely different from that in other states, " a news release

on the study said.

While the drugs can reduce anxiety, agitation and sleeplessness, they also

can interact with alcohol and other abused substances to increase intoxication

and the likelihood of addiction to benzodiazepines, the study said.

The study found that individuals with bipolar or other psychiatric disorders,

who also had substance use disorders (SUD), " were prescribed significantly

higher dosages of benzodiazepine than their counterparts without SUD.

" Patients with schizophrenia and those suffering from major depression along

with SUD were getting nominally higher doses than those without SUD, " according

to the author of the study, Robin of the Center for Health Policy and

Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Shrewsbury.

urged health care professionals and policy makers to " reassess

prescribing practices for benzodiazepine for mentally ill persons with substance

abuse problems. "

He said there is no definitive answer as to why physicians are

overprescribing the drugs for mentally ill individuals with substance abuse

problems, although the addictive potential of the drug is noted on the package

insert.

The study also found that individuals with major depression or other

psychiatric disorders, who also had SUD, were significantly more likely to use

fast-acting high-potency medications than those without SUD, said.

said his study was limited to diagnosed cases of severe substance abuse

among patients with mental illness, which could " underestimate " the true extent

of benzodiazepine prescription.

The study was conducted when was at the Dartmouth Medical School in

Hanover. He since has since joined the University of Massachusetts Medical

School.

The Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of The Wood

Foundation funded 's research.

---

On The Web:

www.saprp.org

www.rwjf.org

LOAD-DATE: January 15, 2004

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss

[Guest guest]

The Associated Press State & Local Wire

The materials in the AP file were compiled by The Associated

Press. These materials may not be republished without the

express written consent of The Associated Press.

January 15, 2004, Thursday, BC cycle

2:17 AM Eastern Time

SECTION: State and Regional

LENGTH: 451 words

HEADLINE: Study finds patients overprescribed with anti-anxiety drugs

DATELINE: CONCORD, N.H.

BODY:

Medicaid patients with mental illness and substance abuse problems are being

overprescribed for anti-anxiety drugs, according to a New Hampshire-based study.

The study in the January issue of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry found

that some of the same Medicaid beneficiaries were getting higher potency and

faster acting versions of benzodiazepine, marketed as Valium, Xanex or Halcion.

Of the 40 million poor Americans with Medicaid benefits a substantial number

qualifies for the drugs.

The study, released Wednesday, examined claims filed by 9,884 Medicaid

patients from New Hampshire, ages 18 to 64 between 1995 and 1999.

" The findings have national implications because New Hampshire's Medicaid

population is not largely different from that in other states, " a news release

on the study said.

While the drugs can reduce anxiety, agitation and sleeplessness, they also

can interact with alcohol and other abused substances to increase intoxication

and the likelihood of addiction to benzodiazepines, the study said.

The study found that individuals with bipolar or other psychiatric disorders,

who also had substance use disorders (SUD), " were prescribed significantly

higher dosages of benzodiazepine than their counterparts without SUD.

" Patients with schizophrenia and those suffering from major depression along

with SUD were getting nominally higher doses than those without SUD, " according

to the author of the study, Robin of the Center for Health Policy and

Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Shrewsbury.

urged health care professionals and policy makers to " reassess

prescribing practices for benzodiazepine for mentally ill persons with substance

abuse problems. "

He said there is no definitive answer as to why physicians are

overprescribing the drugs for mentally ill individuals with substance abuse

problems, although the addictive potential of the drug is noted on the package

insert.

The study also found that individuals with major depression or other

psychiatric disorders, who also had SUD, were significantly more likely to use

fast-acting high-potency medications than those without SUD, said.

said his study was limited to diagnosed cases of severe substance abuse

among patients with mental illness, which could " underestimate " the true extent

of benzodiazepine prescription.

The study was conducted when was at the Dartmouth Medical School in

Hanover. He since has since joined the University of Massachusetts Medical

School.

The Substance Abuse Policy Research Program of The Wood

Foundation funded 's research.

---

On The Web:

www.saprp.org

www.rwjf.org

LOAD-DATE: January 15, 2004

Jim - Norman

" Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them. "

Strauss