ABSTRACT
Since their introduction in the early 1960s, benzodiazepines (BZPs) have become the most widely prescribed psychoactive agents in the world, owing mainly to their ease of use, relatively low toxicity, and tremendous effectiveness in alleviating anxiety. Although specific agents have undergone wide swings in popularity, the overall market for BZPs has remained rich. Over 17 million prescriptions for these agents were filled in 1989 in the United States.51 The BZPs are so effective at relieving anxiety that they have also become one of the most widely abused prescription drugs, prompting New York State to institute mandatory triplicate prescription regulation for all BZPs.l3l However, it is clear that the majority of prescriptions are not abused and BZPs are likely to remain useful for specific conditions.125
