Psychotropic Medication Addiction

Psychotropic medications are drugs intended to treat depression (antidepressants), reduce anxiety (anxiolytics) or induce sleep (hypnotics), such as benzodiazepines. Taking anxiolytics and/or hypnotics (hypnosedatives) at higher doses than necessary can cause drowsiness, memory difficulties and impaired motor coordination.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns primary care that, although benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed, they are not the recommended option for relieving acute stress or insomnia after a traumatic event. They should be prescribed for short periods (a few weeks) because afterwards they lose therapeutic effectiveness and encourage tolerance and dependence.

According to the latest survey on alcohol and drug use in Spain (2011–2012), the only type of use that increased was that of hypnosedatives. And, although drug use in general is higher among men, for hypnosedatives the proportion of women is double that of men: 7.6% of men compared with 15.3% of women in the last year.

Types of psychotropic medication

• Anxiolytics / hypnotics: Prescribed to reduce anxiety or help sleep. With a short or long half-life, they have a strong psychoactive effect and can create dependence. Abrupt withdrawal after prolonged use, without a gradual reduction schedule, can cause withdrawal syndrome.

• Antidepressants: Psychoactive drugs for major depression, certain anxiety disorders and some eating disorders. At low doses they may be used for insomnia. They do not cause dependence in the strict sense, but sudden discontinuation can produce adverse effects.

• Antipsychotics or neuroleptics: Drugs used mainly, though not exclusively, in the treatment of psychoses.

What do we offer?

First orientation and information interview. We compile a full clinical history to assess history of use, personal and family background, social and family situation and organic conditions. With this assessment we decide whether prior detoxification is needed before starting psychotherapy and whether treatment will be outpatient or residential.

If treatment is residential: referral to one of our two therapeutic centres, Riera Major or Can Coll.

If treatment is outpatient:

• Individual psychotherapy: orientation and treatment sessions with a psychologist specialising in drug dependence.

• Psychiatric care: assessment and, where appropriate, introduction of psychotropic medication to reduce craving (intense desire) and the loss of control when use begins (priming).

• Urine tests (laboratory analysis).

• Family therapy.

• Group psychotherapy.

Psychotropic medication use among women

According to the latest national survey on alcohol and other drugs, 15.6% of women —double the figure for men— report having used psychotropic medication in the last year. The trend is rising and the differences widen with age: 27% of women aged 55 to 64 report use in the last year.

Although men have historically accounted for around 80% of people in treatment, women, especially middle-aged women, show greater reluctance to ask for help. For this reason, at Fundación Salud y Comunidad we have designed a specific programme that addresses these barriers, promotes freedom from guilt and destigmatisation, and offers therapy groups exclusively for women in an environment of trust and safety.