2024-02-14 17:02:00
More than 5,500 people are following the gradual withdrawal program from sleeping pills or painkillers, one year after its launch, the Belgian Pharmaceutical Association (APB) reported in a press release on Wednesday. More than 2,000 pharmacies contribute to the initiative by making preparations in decreasing doses, reimbursed by Inami, and by providing advice to adult patients.
“This new pharmacy service greatly exceeds our expectations,” enthused the vice-president of the association, Michael Storme. “It’s a huge success across the country.” On February 1, 2023, Federal Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke and Inami launched the pilot project.
A budget had been released. “Given the initial positive evaluations, an additional budget has already been planned until the end of August 2024.” Data collected by the association also shows that 105 new weaning programs are started each week.
Last July, 3,000 people were following the program and 125 were starting it each week. “How effective is the new service? We will have to wait a few more months before we can draw up a complete assessment,” notes the APB. Overconsumption of benzodiazepines and related drugs, such as Xanax or Valium, has been a problem in Belgium for years.
“In 2021, Belgian pharmacies delivered around 400 million doses, which corresponds to an average daily consumption of around 1.1 million doses,” said the APB. With prolonged use, these products create dependence and cause other undesirable effects.
sleeping pills withdrawal
1707964364
#Valium #Xanax #Belgians #follow #sleeping #pill #withdrawal #program