JAMA study finds increase in mortality rates with use of benzodiazepines and opioids

A study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) examined the association between concurrent benzodiazepine and opioid use and the effect on morality rates in comparison to the use of low-risk anti-depressants (SSRIs). Researchers found a significant increase in mortality associated with benzodiazepine use with or without opioids in comparison with SSRI use. Benzodiazepine and opioid use, in particular, was associated with a two-fold increase in mortality even after taking into account medical comorbidities and sociodemographic variables.