BE-SAFE celebrates the World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day: Highlighting risks and advocating for safe sleep practices

12/07/2024

On July 11th, the BE-SAFE EU Horizon consortium observes World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day. This initiative aims to promote the safe use of benzodiazepines and raise awareness about the risks that can be associated with their use.
Benzodiazepines and z-drugs are usually prescribed for conditions like insomnia and anxiety. They can cause several adverse effects like falls, fractures and vehicle accidents. Frequent reports of drug dependence have been documented among patients using benzodiazepines. For example, a national study of substance use disorder in France revealed that 45.3% of older adults using benzodiazepines or z-drugs are dependents1. Moreover, the inappropriate prescriptions of these drugs increase healthcare costs. It is therefore important for the population and for healthcare systems to reduce their use. This includes sensitizing patients and healthcare professionals about the potential individual and societal benefits of reducing or stopping benzodiazepines use.
Raising awareness about the risks of benzodiazepines, along with promoting simple and effective ways to sleep better, can help reduce the use of these drugs. This is why the consortium of the BE-SAFE project is taking advantage of this special occasion to share with the public a set of resources aiming at demystifying sleep, empowering patients and their relatives, and showing successful stories of people who tapered their benzodiazepines. The different resources listed below are accessible to the public through the BE-SAFE website.
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Infographics on Sleep Myths and Risks of Sleeping Pills:
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Myths About Sleep: This evidence-based resource wants to address myths about sleep.
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Risks of Taking Sleeping Pills: This infographic outlines the dangers and side effects of using them.
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Success Stories:
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It is a collection of real-life based stories from patients, families, and health care providers. They show how individuals could successfully reduce or quit using sleeping pills.
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Vicious cycle of sleep and healthy habits:
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An animation resource to highlight the vicious cycle of poor sleep. It also covers effective and healthy habits to promote restful sleep without relying on medication.
BE-SAFE invites the community, healthcare professionals, and stakeholders to join this campaign. Follow our social media channels and use the hashtag #BenzoAwarenessDay to spread the word and share your experiences. BE-SAFE in a nutshell The BE-SAFE project is targeting patient safety by addressing knowledge and practice gaps related to the reduction of medications used for sleep problems in Europe. Experts and patients are involved to promote an interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial approach. BE-SAFE is a European research project funded by the European Commission Horizon programme under the work programme HORIZON-HLTH-2021-CARE-05-01: Enhancing quality of care and patient safety) and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI) (contract No 22.00116). The project duration will be from 2022 to 2027.