Trends show increase in benzodiazepine use disorder in young people on Medicaid

There was a 3‐ to 5‐fold increase in substance use disorders (SUDs) specific to sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytics among adolescent and young adult enrollees of Medicaid from 2001 to 2019, but prevalence remained low among adolescents, researchers have found. The increase in use disorders of these medications, many of which are benzodiazepines, was attributed to the increase in availability of these medications, as well as to the increased awareness and detection of these disorders.