The relationship between benzodiazepine use and buprenorphine treatment outcomes is poorly characterized. Existing observational studies investigating mortality risk associated with benzodiazepine prescriptions in OUD patients have produced contradictory results.(8–10) While some findings suggest that benzodiazepines may enhance retention in buprenorphine maintenance treatment (4, 11), benzodiazepines have also been associated with increased drug-related poisoning, (11–14) all-cause mortality,(11) non-overdose deaths(8), decreased retention in treatment,(12, 15–17) and accidental-injury related emergency room visits.(5) Notably, no studies have specifically studied potential additive or interactive effects between buprenorphine and benzodiazepines.
