UNITED | E |
Economic and Social Council | |
Distr. 1208th Meeting | |
CND Res.44/13. | Contribution to the appropriate use of benzodiazepines* |
The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, Having regard to the need to give full effect to the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 197138 and bearing in mind, in particular, the preamble to that Convention, Also having regard to paragraphs 170, 171 and 172 of the Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1999,39 Further having regard to paragraphs 12, 15, 175 and 176 of the Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2000,40 Noting with satisfaction that on 29 and 30 January 2001, the Pompidou Group of the Council of Europe met with a group of experts to examine the issues related to the appropriate use of benzodiazepines, I 1. Recognizes the usefulness and importance of benzodiazepines in therapy and believes that, notwithstanding the abuses and excesses resulting from inappropriate use of benzodiazepines, the risk-benefit ratio remains favourable, justifying their retention in the therapeutic armoury; 2. Welcomes Council of Europe resolution AP (90) 3 of 18 October 1990 regarding the prescription of benzodiazepines; 3. Recommends that health care professionals consider the following when prescribing benzodiazepines:
II Emphasizes the importance of initial and in-service training for relevant health professionals concerning the appropriate use of benzodiazepines. Such training should include diagnostic tools, methods for stopping treatment and information about alternative therapies or medicines; III Recommends that patients be closely involved in the conduct of their treatment. The relevant health professionals should impress upon their patients the importance of strictly complying with the prescribed dosage. Patients should be informed about the problems that can arise from the use and abuse of benzodiazepines; IV Wishes to involve the pharmaceutical industry in efforts to ensure appropriate use of benzodiazepines, urging it, inter alia, to:
V Urges the pharmaceutical industry to cooperate with analysis laboratories in the analytical study of benzodiazepines by supplying reference substances and suitable analytical methods; VI Emphasizes the importance of increased research, in particular, medical and sociological research in order to obtain a better knowledge of the epidemiology, identify the problems and find solutions related to the use, abuse and supply of, as well as dependence on, benzodiazepines; VII 1. Attaches particular importance to the problem of withdrawal, a priority issue associated with the use of benzodiazepines. The following points should be considered:
2. Stresses that the information concerning withdrawal should be practical, so as to encourage relevant health professionals and patients to complete the therapy or the treatment; VIII Draws the attention of the authorities to the benefits of statistics and their analysis. A knowledge of changing trends and national and international comparisons are useful in drawing up strategies; IX Requests the competent authorities to develop tools with comparable methodology for monitoring any abuse or pharmacodependence liable to result from the use of medicines and, in particular, benzodiazepines; X Observes that inappropriate benzodiazepine prescription and dispensing by health professionals can be a major factor in the misuse of those substances. Corrective measures or proceedings should be initiated, if necessary, by supervisory authorities, in cases of serious or repeated breaches; XI Expresses its concern about the use of benzodiazepines for criminal purposes without the victims knowledge to facilitate sexual assault, robbery and other criminal offences. The use of safety features (colourings, flavourings or others) by the pharmaceutical industry in the manufacture of benzodiazepines is to be encouraged. If necessary, health professionals and the general public should be informed about such matters; XII Considers that monitoring and control are important tools in the elimination of benzodiazepine misuse. Those substances the abuse of which leads to a serious public health problem should be subject to more stringent measures (involving prescription, dispensing, measures to combat illegal trafficking, withdrawal of medicines etc.) at the local and international level in order to prevent misuse and illegal trafficking; XIII Emphasizes the decisive role played by competent national authorities, which can involve medical prescriptions, dispensing, pharmaceutical presentation, control methods, statistical systems, monitoring, training and research on benzodiazepines. Such aspects will allow relevant national authorities to be fully informed about the abuse of benzodiazepines and to act accordingly, thus allowing countries to provide the International Narcotics Control Board with information that would enhance its knowledge of the situation. 1208th meeting */ For the discussion, see chap. VI, para. 143. 38/ United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 1019, No. 14956. 39/ United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.XI.1. 40/ United Nations publication, Sales No. E.01.XI.1. |