Development of an intervention to manage benzodiazepine dependence and high-risk use in the context of escalating drug related deaths in Scotland: an application of the MRC framework

BACKGROUND: Scotland has the highest rate of drug related deaths (DRD) in Europe. These are deaths in people who use drugs such as heroin, cocaine, benzodiazepines and gabapentinoids. It is a feature of deaths in Scotland that people use combinations of drugs which increases the chance of a DRD. Many deaths involve ‘street’ benzodiazepines, especially a drug called etizolam. Many of the ‘street’ benzodiazepines are not licensed in the UK so come from illegal sources. People who use opiates can be prescribed a safer replacement medication (e.g., methadone). While guidance on management of benzodiazepines use highlights that there is little evidence to support replacement prescribing, practice and evidence are emerging. AIM: To develop an intervention to address ‘street’ benzodiazepines use in people who also use opiates. METHODS: The MRC Framework for Complex Interventions was used to inform research design. Co-production of the intervention was achieved through three online workshops with clinicians, academics working in the area of substance use, and people with lived experience (PWLE). Each workshop was followed by a PWLE group meeting. Outputs from workshops were discussed and refined by the PWLE group and then further explored at the next workshop. RESULTS: After these six sessions, a finalised logic model for the intervention was successfully achieved that was acceptable to clinicians and PWLE. Key components of the intervention were: prescribing of diazepam; anxiety management, sleep, and pain; and harm reduction resources (locked box and a range of tips), personal safety conversations, as well as a virtual learning environment. CONCLUSION: A co-produced intervention was developed for next stage clinical feasibility testing. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-023-10201-7.