Valium Addiction Statistics

Benzodiazepines are sedative drugs commonly prescribed to manage anxiety and insomnia. Valium is one of the most frequently prescribed and misused benzodiazepines. Let’s take a look at the misuse of Valium (and benzodiazepines in general) in the U.S.

Key Takeaways:

• In 2013, approximately 12.5 million people in the U.S. reported non-medical use of diazepam (Valium).

• Valium is the third most commonly misused tranquilizer in the U.S., following alprazolam and lorazepam. 

• A 2014 survey found that 1.7% of 8th graders, 3.9% of 10th graders, and 4.7% of 12th graders reported misusing or abusing substances like Valium in the past year.

• In 2013, around 30% of prescription drug overdose deaths involved benzodiazepines, including Valium.

• In 2022, benzodiazepines were involved in 10,964 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. 

• Among drug-related emergency department (ED) visits in 2022, 21% involved multiple substances. 73% of such cases involved benzodiazepines.

• White patients accounted for 75.2% of benzodiazepine-related emergency department visits in 2022. 

• Benzodiazepine overdose deaths increased from 1,135 in 1999 to 11,537 in 2017, with a decline to 9,711 in 2019 and a rise to 12,499 in 2021.

• In 2021, nearly 14% of all opioid-caused overdose deaths also involved benzodiazepines.

• Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 reported the greatest rates of benzodiazepine misuse in 2021 at 2.4%, representing 787,000 cases.

Valium Addiction Statistics

Here are statistics specific to Valium addiction in the U.S.:

• Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that around 12.5 million individuals in the U.S. reported non-medical use of Valium in 2013. 

• Valium ranks as the third most commonly misused tranquilizer among U.S. citizens, following alprazolam and lorazepam. 

• According to a 2014 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 1.7% of 8th graders, 3.9% of 10th graders, and 4.7% of 12th graders reported engaging in Valium abuse in the last 12 months. 

• In 2013, approximately 30% of prescription drug overdose deaths involved benzodiazepines such as Valium.

General Benzodiazepine Addiction Statistics 

Benzodiazepine misuse is not limited to Valium. There are many other drugs in this category with similar effects to Valium. Here are some statistics on benzodiazepine misuse in the U.S.:

• According to the NIDA, the United States saw 10,964 drug overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines in 2022.

• The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reported that white patients accounted for 75.2% of benzodiazepine-related ED visits in 2022. 

• In 2022, 21% of drug-related emergency department visits involved more than one substance, with 73% of those cases involving benzodiazepines. 

• According to DAWN, benzodiazepine-related emergency department visits were nearly identical for men and women in 2022, with rates of 54 per 100,000 for males and 60 per 100,000 for females. 

• According to DAWN, adults between the ages of 26 and 44 had the largest percentage (43.4%) and rate (98 per 100,000 people) of benzodiazepine-related emergency department visits. 

• Between 1999 and 2017, benzodiazepine overdose deaths in the U.S. increased from 1,135 to 11,537. The numbers saw a decrease to 9,711 deaths in 2019, before increasing to 12,499 deaths in 2021.

• Data from the NIDA indicates that nearly 14% of opioid-related overdose deaths in 2021 also involved benzodiazepines.

• The 2021 NSDUH revealed that 1.4 million U.S. residents (above the age of 12) reported misusing tranquilizers and sedatives (including benzodiazepines) within the past 30 days. 

• In 2021, over 14.3 million people abused psychotherapeutic drugs. Of this group, approximately 3.9 million individuals above the age of 12 reported engaging in benzodiazepine abuse at least one time in the past year.

• According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), young adults (between the ages of 18 and 25) were the most likely to engage in benzodiazepine misuse in 2021, with over 787,000 reported cases and a 2.4% misuse rate. 

• In 2021, prescription benzodiazepine misuse was the highest among multiracial individuals (2.3%), followed by white individuals (1.7%). 

• In 2020, 3.9% of 8th grader reported using benzodiazepines at least once in their lives.

• In 2020, the American Association of Poison Control Centers recorded a total of 53,190 instances involving benzodiazepines. This included 19,431 cases of single exposures and 16 fatalities related to these substances. 

• In 2019, benzodiazepines were a factor in 16% of all opioid-related overdose deaths. The same year saw 9,711 fatalities due to overdoses involving benzodiazepines. 

• Among U.S. adults, 12.5% reported using benzodiazepines between 2015 and 2016, which comes out to around 30.5 million people. A further 2.1% reported misusing these medicines and 0.2% showed symptoms of benzodiazepine use disorder. 

• Of all U.S. adults reporting benzodiazepine use between 2015 and 2016, 17.1% misused them and 2% had a benzodiazepine use disorder.

• Between 2015 and 2016, around 46.3% of individuals reported misusing benzodiazepines to “relax” or “relieve tension”. 

• Between 2015 and 2016, the majority of benzodiazepine misusers sourced the drugs from friends or family members, with only 20% getting them from a doctor. 

• From 2015 to 2016, the highest rate of benzodiazepine prescriptions was observed in adults aged 50 to 64, at 12.9%. In contrast, the highest rate of misuse was found among young adults aged 18 to 25, at 5.2%. Adults over 65 had the lowest misuse rate, at 0.6%. 

• A 2020 National Health Statistic Report revealed a rise in benzodiazepine prescriptions among U.S. adults from 1996 to 2013, increasing from 4.1% prescriptions to 5.6% in 2013.

• From 2003 to 2015, the number of outpatient visits involving benzodiazepine prescriptions saw a dramatic surge, growing from 27.6 million to 62.6 million.

• From 2014 to 2016, benzodiazepines were prescribed during 27 out of every 100 physician visits. Women experienced higher benzodiazepine prescription rates (34 per 100 female patients) than men (20 per 100 male patients). 

• Among all genders and ages, the highest rate of benzodiazepine prescriptions was observed among women aged 65 and over, with 62 visits per 100 women, while the lowest rate was among men aged 18 to 44, with 9 visits per 100 men.

• In 2011, there were 2056 drug-related hospital visits by individuals aged 65 and above. Of these, 48 were specifically related to benzodiazepines. 

• According to a 2011 survey by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), more than 20 million U.S. citizens (aged 12 or above) have misused benzodiazepines at least once in their lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Which Benzodiazepine Is the Most Abused in the U.S.?

Xanax (alprazolam) and Valium (Diazepam) are two of the most frequently abused benzodiazepines.

What Are the Most Commonly Prescribed Benzodiazepines in the U.S.?

The most frequently prescribed benzodiazepines include Valium, Xanax, Ativan, Klonopin, and Halcion.

Is Benzodiazepine Addiction High in New Jersey?

Yes, about 10% of New Jersey residents admitted for substance abuse treatment were being treated for benzodiazepine use in 2022. Additionally, Rutgers University reports that benzodiazepine misuse among New Jersey teenagers was the second most common prescription medication abuse in 2021. For more information, check out our New Jersey Addiction Research 2024.

Data Sources

1. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
2. https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/benzo.pdf#search=benzo
3. https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/opioids/benzodiazepines-opioids
4. https://drugabuse.com/benzodiazepines/valium/history-and-statistics/
5. https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/valium-addiction/valium-overdose/#:~:text=The%20Risks%20of%20Valium%20Overdose,users%20and%20their%20families%20alike.
6. https://www.addictionhelp.com/benzodiazepines/statistics/
7. https://www.addictionhelp.com/benzodiazepines/valium/
8. https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/valium-addiction/
9. https://drugabuse.com/benzodiazepines/valium/abuse/
10. https://drugabuse.com/benzodiazepines/valium/
11. https://www.rehabspot.com/benzodiazepines/valium/
12. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/2022-12/2021NSDUHFFRHighlights092722.pdf
13. https://store.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/pep23-07-03-001.pdf
14. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6358464/
15. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt39443/2021NSDUHFFRRev010323.pdf
16. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr137-508.pdf
17. https://www.rutgers.edu/news/drug-used-sleep-disorders-linked-higher-risk-overdose-teens-young-adults
18. https://www.nj.gov/humanservices/dmhas/publications/statistical/Substance%20Abuse%20Overview/2022/Statewide.pdf