New study reveals anti-anxiety meds raise risk of death

On March 19th, the British Medical Journal published a study that examined the use of sedatives and anti-anxiety medication and their impact on overall health and mortality rates. The 7-year study looked at more than 34,000 patients in the United Kingdom who were prescribed pharmaceuticals like Xanax, Valium, and Klonopin. Patients prescribed anti-anxiety medication and sleeping pills exhibited a more than 300% higher likelihood of dying than those who were not. The study ruled out other possible contributing factors of early mortality, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, and age. The study revealed that some individuals who take sedatives and/or anti-anxiety medication develop addictive behavior or show signs of cognitive or motor skills deficiencies. “Prescription medication can be misused just as easily as illegal drugs or alcohol,” said Pax Prentiss, CEO of Passages Addiction Treatment Centers. “Our treatment team focuses on transitioning our clients away from mind-altering substances, so they can face their daily lives with clarity and confidence.” Researchers also noted that individuals taking anti-anxiety drugs often develop a tolerance to the substances which can make them drastically less effective in as few as two weeks. Sedatives like Lunesta and Ambien were also cited as medications associated with higher risk of death. Both are benzodiazepines, the most commonly prescribed type of pharmaceutical. At Passages Malibu - Addiction Ends Here™ About Passages Malibu & Passages Ventura: Father and son team Chris and Pax Prentiss founded Passages Malibu in 2001. Its second location, Passages Ventura, first opened its doors in 2009. The two drug, alcohol, and prescription medication abuse treatment centers offer an alternative to the 12 step/AA model of addiction treatment by utilizing a holistic program that focuses on the underlying issues of substance dependency, rather than attributing addiction to an incurable disease. Both Passages Malibu and Passages Ventura accept insurance and each have earned the coveted Joint Commission (JCAHO) accreditation, which has only been given to 6% of the nation’s behavioral health treatment programs. Passages Malibu was named the #1 treatment center in the world by Healthcare Global, one of the "Most Luxurious Places to Dry Out" by Forbes magazine, and the Huffington Post recently acknowledged Passages as a center that “caters to a high-end crowd, with many CEOs, entrepreneurs and high-powered professionals among its clients.” The co-founders are also authors of an acclaimed series of addiction treatment books, including their groundbreaking, flagship title, The Alcoholism & Addiction Cure. From: PRWEB