Abstract
To investigate abuse of hypnotics and anxiolytics in Japan, we surveyed 938 cases of psychoactive substance abuse who were registered by 851 psychiatric institutes from August to September in 1991. Ninety cases (55 males, 35 females) of them suffered from abuse or dependence of hypnotics and/or anxiolytics. They were about 42 years old on average, older than abusers of meta-amphetamine or organic solvent. Many drugs were used for abuse, and the drug most frequently used for abuse was triazolam, secondarily Bromsoval (named bromvalerylurea in Japan), and thirdly diazepam. Abusers of these drugs used multiple drugs more frequently than single drug. So one-third of them abused single drug exclusively, but two-thirds abused multiple drugs. Seventy percent of the cases took drugs from the physician and 36% from the drug store. The most common motivation for abuse was medication of anxiety and/or insomnia, but sometimes recreation or stimulation to thier life. Three-quarters of them did not adjust in the social or family life. From these data presented, we conclude that it is neccesary to make the more appropriate and strict regulation of hypnotics and anxiolytics.
