Benzodiazepines leading cause of drug deaths in Cape Breton

Prescription benzodiazepines continue to be the leading cause of drug deaths in Cape Breton and the second leading cause of drug-related deaths in Halifax.

Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are primarily prescribed for anxiety, both for long-term disorders and acutely, such as before a colonoscopy. They can also aid with insomnia and act as a muscle relaxant. The classification includes drugs like Xanax, Valium and Ativan. 

Last year in Cape Breton County, 12 people died of overdoses.

"I think of 12 mothers, 12 sisters, I think of 12 brothers," says Christine Porter who runs the Cape Breton Aids Coalition. 

The group distributes clean needles and helps people with addictions. 

To her, the numbers are people she knew. 

"There are ways that you can intervene. There are naloxone programs, overdose prevention programs, springing up all over Canada with really great success," says Porter.

In Nova Scotia, only paramedics carry naloxone, a drug that counters the effects of opioids, especially after an overdose. The province is considering making it more widely available. 

Director of Addiction Services, Carolyn Davison also says the Nova Scotia government is moving to join other provinces like Ontario and British Columbia in tracking benzodiazepines.

"We're having a new drug information system start in Nova Scotia which will include benzodiazepines. So they will be tracked coming up next fiscal," says Davison.

In Halifax, 25 people died of overdoses last year. Hydromorphone or Dilaudid and Valium caused the most overdoses.

Direction 180, a methadone clinic in Halifax, has treated hundreds of prescription drug addicts since it opened in 2001.

The clinic’s executive director, Cindy MacIsaac, told CBC News in an interview last fall that 100 per cent of their clients are addicted to prescription drugs, whether obtained illegally or legally. She said she would like to see better monitoring of prescriptions.

Right now, doctors have to get special training to prescribe methadone to treat opiate addicts. The College of Physicians and Surgeons offers courses on how to prescribe painkillers, but those are optional.