A Snapshot seminar hosted by the School of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience
Abstract: In 2022, Scotland reported 1051 drug-related deaths, while England and Wales saw 4,907 fatalities, with a significant portion involving the simultaneous use of multiple drugs. This worrying trend, particularly the concurrent consumption of opioids and benzodiazepines, is considered a key factor driving the escalating overdose crisis.
Despite these alarming figures, the precise neuropharmacological mechanisms behind the lethal combination of opioids and benzos remain unclear. Our multidisciplinary team, comprising experts in qualitative research, public health, physiology, and neuropharmacology, is dedicated to bridging this knowledge gap. We are integrating insights from both controlled laboratory experiments in rodent models and firsthand accounts of individuals with lived experience to unravel the intricate interplay between opioids and benzos and their deadly impact on respiratory function – a primary driver of fatal overdoses.
Through qualitative interviews conducted across diverse locations in the UK, we are gaining nuanced insights into the motivations for poly-drug use, usage patterns, dosing behaviours, perceived risks, and drivers of drug choices. These qualitative findings are continually informing our laboratory investigations, which are shedding light on the neural mechanisms underlying the respiratory depression induced by the combined use of opioids and benzos.
By elucidating the complex interactions between opioids and benzos, we aim to test anecdotal information prevalent in frontline drug service settings and contribute to evidence-based harm reduction strategies. Moreover, our findings have the potential to lay the groundwork for innovative interventions aimed at preventing fatal overdoses in the long term.