Benzodiazepines are depressant drugs. This means that they slow down the activity of the central nervous system and the messages travelling between the brain and the body.

They don’t necessarily make a person feel depressed. Other depressants include alcohol, cannabis and heroin.

Benzodiazepines also are minor tranquillisers, usually prescribed by doctors to relieve stress and anxiety and to help people sleep.² They can also be used to treat alcohol withdrawal and epilepsy.²

But, medical professionals have become concerned about their risks, particularly if used over a long time.

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