John Peppin – författare

Developed decades ago to treat a legitimate medical need, benzodiazepines promisingly displaced less-effective and less-safe drugs, though prescribing has since exceeded their intended use and outpaced the available data. The current situation is characterized by excessive prescribing and extended utilization beyond good therapeutic practice. Evidence indicates that prolonged use of benzodiazepines causes a wide range of adverse reactions, and withdrawal can be particularly challenging. Misused, abused, diverted, and counterfeited, benzodiazepines have serious potential for substance use disorder, and are among the leading causes of drug-related overdose deaths. The Benzodiazepines Crisis sounds the alarm against the overuse of benzodiazepines, presenting an updated, evidence-based overview of this class of drugs and their negative consequences. Bringing together years of research, clinical expertise, and scientific evidence, this book aims to address a perceived lag between evidence and action in order to call for rational and dramatically reduced usage of benzodiazepines.

Prescription Drug Diversion and Pain provides an interdisciplinary overview of medications used to treat chronic pain, specifically the benefits and risks that are posed by long-term opioids use. These essential pain-relieving medications must be carefully managed to prevent serious side effects that may include physical dependence, addiction, and even death, which has led in recent years to increased attention on the development of alternative treatments for chronic pain. This book not only offers a single, comprehensive source for understanding the specialized field of the opioid crisis, but also addresses provocative topics including how pain drugs came to be regulated by the U.S. Government and the rarely-discussed aggressive marketing behind the spread of these drugs. Chapters are written by expert contributors from diverse backgrounds in medicine, psychiatry, pharmacy, nursing, health law, and ethics. Prescription Drug Diversion and Pain is a must-read for healthcare professionals, caregivers, policy makers, regulatory officials, law enforcement, and those in the pharmaceutical industry seeking to address the current and future opioid crisis.