Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in the prevalence of depression and anxiety among children and young adults. This study aims to determine whether the pandemic was associated with changes in prescription benzodiazepine use.
Findings/Key points
An immediate decline in benzodiazepine dispensing was found. Lower than expected benzodiazepine dispensing rates were observed each month of the pandemic from April 2020 onward, with relative percent differences ranging from − 7.4% (95% CI: -10.1% to – 4.7%) to -20.9% (95% CI: -23.2% to -18.6%). Results were generally similar in analyses stratified by sex, age, neighbourhood income quintile, and urban versus rural residence.
Design/methods
A population-based study of benzodiazepine dispensing to children and young adults ≤ 24 years old between January 1, 2013, and June 30, 2022 was conducted. Structural break analyses was used to identify the pandemic month(s) when changes in prescription benzodiazepine dispensing occurred, and interrupted time series models to quantify changes in dispensing following the structural break and compare observed and expected benzodiazepine use.
