TY - JOUR
T1 - Perceptions of Benzodiazepine Dependence Among Women Age 65 and Older
AU - Canham, Sarah L.
AU - Gallo, Joseph
AU - Simoni-Wastila, Linda
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by Award Numbers F31DA025391 and T32DA007292 from the National Institutes on Drug Abuse. Neither of these funding sources had a role in the design, execution, analysis and interpretation of data, or writing of the study.
Publisher Copyright:
©, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2014/11/17
Y1 - 2014/11/17
N2 - A phenomenological study explored whether older women who are chronic benzodiazepine users identified themselves as dependent, how dependence was perceived, and how meanings and understandings shaped experiences of benzodiazepine use. Self-reported benzodiazepine dependence was associated with being unable to reduce use or a desire to discontinue use and reliance on benzodiazepines to remain comfortable and able to handle daily life. Themes included: (a) benzodiazepine dependence is similar to dependence to diabetes or blood pressure medications; (b) dependence is distinctive from addiction/abuse; (c) addiction/abuse is perceived as worse than dependence; and (d) concerns of addiction/abuse result in low-dose benzodiazepine use.
AB - A phenomenological study explored whether older women who are chronic benzodiazepine users identified themselves as dependent, how dependence was perceived, and how meanings and understandings shaped experiences of benzodiazepine use. Self-reported benzodiazepine dependence was associated with being unable to reduce use or a desire to discontinue use and reliance on benzodiazepines to remain comfortable and able to handle daily life. Themes included: (a) benzodiazepine dependence is similar to dependence to diabetes or blood pressure medications; (b) dependence is distinctive from addiction/abuse; (c) addiction/abuse is perceived as worse than dependence; and (d) concerns of addiction/abuse result in low-dose benzodiazepine use.
KW - aging
KW - prescription drug abuse
KW - qualitative research
KW - women
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84927177819&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/01634372.2014.901470
DO - 10.1080/01634372.2014.901470
M3 - Article
C2 - 24918963
AN - SCOPUS:84927177819
SN - 0163-4372
VL - 57
SP - 872
EP - 888
JO - Journal of Gerontological Social Work
JF - Journal of Gerontological Social Work
IS - 8
ER -