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From: sdyer@bbnccv.UUCP (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Valium
Message-ID: <191@bbnccv.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 15-Mar-85 12:05:19 EST
Article-I.D.: bbnccv.191
Posted: Fri Mar 15 12:05:19 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Mar-85 05:21:39 EST
References: <271@ttidcc.UUCP>
Organization: Bolt Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, MA
Lines: 39

> Since we're discussing it, here's my $.02 of knowledge on  the  subject  of
> Valium.
> 
> According to the experts at the local drug rehab hospital (St.  John's, for
> those in the area) Valium is one of the most dangerously addictive and hard
> to kick drugs on the market.  In these respects it far exceeds both  heroin
> and alcohol.
> 
> As an example of the seriousness of this statement, they told me that  when
> a  heroin  addict comes in for treatment they typically reserve a bed for 3
> or 4 days.  For an alcoholic, they reserve a bed  for  about  a  week.  For
> someone  trying  to  kick  Valium  they  reserve  a  bed  for _three weeks,
> minimum_, and make sure it's equipped with padded restraints.
> 
> Part of the danger lies in the fact that Valium is generally thought of  as
> a  mild tranquilizer for minor problems.  Some doctors prescribe it for all
> kinds of minor tension problems (I  once  got  a  valium  prescription  for
> hiccoughs)  and  low grade anxiety.  Patients tend to assume such a drug is
> harmless, and don't even realize they're hooked on it 'til they try to stop
> taking it.
> 

If you look at the number of doses of Valium prescribed versus the number
of cases of abuse, not to mention addiction, it is vanishingly low.  This
seems to be forgotten in the rather sensational stories one often hears
about drugs.  Therapeutic doses of Valium don't cause physical addiction.
Like almost any minor tranquilizer or sedative, prolonged high doses can
cause physical dependence.  Given to a person who has an "addictive
personality", that is, prone to abuse drugs, you'll see problems. Prescribing
any drug indiscriminately and without supervision is bad medicine.

Used appropriately, Valium is a safe, useful drug.  That includes all the
readers here who have used it for muscle spasm or even (horrors) mild
anxiety.  They needn't worry too much about Jerry's scare story, which
describes hard-core abuse.
-- 
/Steve Dyer
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