Benzodiazepines and derivatives

They come as tablets, capsules or injections; and come in a wide variety of colours.

Commonly available street benzos include alprazolam (Xanax), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol), diazepam (Valium), temazepam and phenazepam.

Flubromazolam and etizolam are newer benzodiazepine analogues which are chemically very similar to benzodiazepines and can be dangerously high in potency.

Benzodiazepines can be prescribed medicines, which may have been transferred away from the person who was prescribed them, or illicit or fake products. The benzodiazepines (and other drugs) in illicit or fake products and their dose vary between samples.

They often come in blister packs, which can make them look legitimate and safe but they are not. The tablets are usually sold as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax) but don’t often contain any of the drug they are sold as. Instead they might contain other dangerous benzodiazepines, their analogues or other chemicals.

The tablets currently causing concern and harm are known as and/or marked with ‘DAN 5620’ (on one side) and ‘10’ (on the other), ‘T-20’, ‘TEM 20’, ‘Bensedin’ and ‘MSJ’.

All of this means that people who use benzodiazepines will often be taking a much more potent and more dangerous drug than they think they are, or the tablet’s markings might suggest.

Benzodiazepines come as tablets, capsules or suppositories (tablets inserted up the bum).

Some people crush tablets to inject them. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to skin infections and abscesses and rapid, potentially fatal, overdose.

Benzodiazepines can cause psychological and physical addiction and, because tolerance increases over time, users may have to keep increasing their dose either to get the same hit, or just to maintain the initial positive medical effect on their anxiety or insomnia.

It is because of the risk of dependence (and because they don’t work as well long-term) that benzodiazepines are normally recommended to be only used for short periods of time and only for severe cases.

Withdrawal can cause unpleasant symptoms like a pounding headache, nausea, anxiety and confusion. Some people report having withdrawal symptoms after using benzodiazepines for a relatively short time (for example, a few weeks).

If you or a friend has a problem with benzodiazepines and want to stop using, you should talk to your GP for help and support.

Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.

If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.

• This is a Class C drug, which means it’s illegal to have for yourself, give away or sell.
• Possession can get you up to 2 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.
• Supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Like drink-driving, driving when high is dangerous and illegal. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.

If the police catch people supplying illegal drugs in a home, club, bar or hostel, they can potentially prosecute the landlord, club owner or any other person concerned in the management of the premises.