Self-perceived motivation for benzodiazepine use and behavior related to benzodiazepine use among opiate-dependent patients

Clinical observations have shown a high prevalence of benzodiazepine use among opiate-dependent patients. Our objective was to identify if distinct patterns of behavior could be associated with three different self-perceived motivations for benzodiazepine use: (a) exclusive self-therapeutic motivation, (b) exclusive hedonic motivation, and (c) combined self-therapeutic and hedonic motivation. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire in 92 opiate users in treatment in France (Aquitaine). The behaviors associated with exclusive self-therapeutic motivation included the search for an anxiolytic effect, oral administration, use within the context of a medical prescription, and use without other substances. The behaviors associated with exclusive hedonic motivation were use in combination with other substances, the obtaining of benzodiazepines by the black market, and use of other routes of administration in search of a “blackout.” Among patients who reported both motivations, there were distinct trends of behavior according to motivation.