Lived Experience of Problematic Benzodiazepine Use in Scotland V.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Problematic Benzodiazepine Use, Experiences of Treatment Services and Future Pathways to Recovery in a Scottish Context.
IRAS ID
308402
Contact name
Lynda Russell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 14 days
Research summary
Summary of Research
Problematic benzodiazepine use (pBZD) has been a long standing issue in Scotland, contributing significantly to drug related harms and deaths. Despite the harms associated with pBZD including, dependency, impaired cognitive functioning and increased risk of polydrug toxicity, there is a limited evidence base regarding psychosocial interventions in this area. The Scottish Government’s strategy “Rights, Respect, Recovery”, calls for innovative research with people with lived experience at the centre, to improve support for those using substances problematically in Scotland. To date research has not been conducted with people with lived experience exploring pBZD use, engagement with treatment services and potential pathways to recovery in a Scottish context. This study aims to explore experiences of psychological distress and pBZD, alongside factors affecting motivation to change or seek support from treatment services from a lived experience perspective. Approximately 8 people with lived experience of pBZD will be recruited from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde’s, Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service (NHSGG&C-ADRS). The NHSGG&C-ADRS care team will make patients who have experience of pBZD aware of the study. If a person is interested in participating in the study, the researcher will call them to discuss what the research involves and check they are suitable to take part. The researcher will then invite people who are suitable to take part in the study to meet for an interview in a local health care centre. The interview will last approximately sixty minutes and follow a flexible structure with several key questions that all people will be asked. The interviews will be recorded and analysed using Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. The study will provide a lived experience perspective of pBZD in Scotland, highlight potential factors which support recovery and provide the perspectives of NHSGG&C-ADRS service users to inform the development of future psychosocial interventions, treatment options and service delivery.Summary of Results
Five people with experience of problematic benzodiazepine use took part in interviews that asked them about their experiences of benzodiazepine use and of getting help. The interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed by the researcher. An analysis approach called Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis was used to interpret the interviews. This approach joins the views of the people who took part in the interview with the interpretations of the researcher to develop themes.The people who took part in the interview told the researcher about their experiences of taking benzodiazepines and seeking help. Five themes were developed from the
interviews: i) Benzodiazepines in Response to the Reality of My Life, ii) The Solution Became the Problem, iii) Motivation to Change, iv) The Role of Medication Assisted Treatment, v) The Role of Relationships.This study adds to the research about what it is like to use and seek treatment for problematic benzodiazepine use in Scotland. The people who took part in the research discussed the role of benzodiazepines in coping with difficult emotions associated with stressful life experiences. They also described how benzodiazepines led to them being less aware of their actions which placed them in danger and described using very high quantities of street benzodiazepines. The researcher recommends that all people who use benzodiazepines problematically should be able to get medication to help them as well as psychological and social support
REC name
North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0122
Date of REC Opinion
14 Jun 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion