Recreational benzodiazepine use within the younger population : the practitioners‘ perspective

Abstract

The non-medical use of benzodiazepines is on the increase throughout the developed world. Alarming as this may be, European research on the subject is sparse and ill-defined. This holds especially true in Malta, as there has been no qualitative inquiry on the subject as of the time of writing. This research aims to shed light on the salient characteristics surrounding benzodiazepine use locally, as to gather insight through a general exploration. Specifically, the antecedents, consequences, and surrounding context are explored through the perspective of the practitioner. A focus on the younger population, being adolescents and young adults, is maintained throughout, as this demographic seems to impact the nature of benzodiazepine use in salient ways. The practitioners in question were to have direct experience with these younger users, and were to have a say in their treatment. For these purposes, four semi structured interviews were conducted, and were subsequently analysed through the application of thematic analysis (TA). 4 super-ordinate themes were generated from the data, each falling within a category and each having separate yet related sub-themes. The findings express the effects culture, younger age, personal factors, and the legal framework have on the use of these substances. Factors arising from the local context emerged to be particularly influential, as contemporary societal factors seem to augment one‘s susceptibility. As such, factors such as education, legal restructuring, and a shift in the underlying paradigm emerged as possible solutions which could constrict the escalation of this phenomenon.