Article by: Risha Koparde Graphics by: Jessie King & Manasi Narsina T he United States Food and Drug Administration is requiring Benzodiazepines to have an updated warning on boxes, as of Sept. 23. The updates on the label must include risk factors for the consumption of the drug. According to the FDA, this includes “abuse, misuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal reactions to help improve their safe use.” Dr. Teresa Amato, the chair of emergency medicine at Long Island Jewish Forest Hills hopes that “by adding verbiage to the current warning that providers will be extra careful in not only prescribing these medications, but also to be mindful of the duration.” Benzodiazepines are drugs used to treat anxiety, depression, seizures, and more impediments. These drugs are lethal in an overdose. Many substance abusers in the world take Benzodiazepines. Xanax, known as Alprazolam, is one of the most common drugs to be abused; according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse survey in 2016, 12.5% of adults in the U.S. take Benzodiazepines. In that 12.5%, at least 2.1% have misused them. Layout by: Alejandra Guio-Perez
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