Health professionals are sounding the alarm over the heightened risk of death linked to the use of psychiatric drugs – particularly benzodiazepine – which was highlighted in a pair of Vancouver-based studies published this month. 

Benzodiazepine (BZD) is a class of psychiatric medications known as “tranquillizers” which can reduce the body’s drive to breathe and are used to treat anxiety, sleep disorders, seizures, and other conditions. They include commonly prescribed drugs such as Valium, Xanax, and Ativan. [Full article]