Risk of long-term benzodiazepine and Z-drug use following the first prescription among community-dwelling adults with anxiety/mood and sleep disorders: a retrospective cohort study.

Less than 1 in 20 patients use BZRAs ≥180 days in their first treatment episode. Several factors were associated with long-term use following the first prescription and further investigation into whether these factors need to be considered at the point of prescribing is warranted. In light of these findings, future research should examine the predictors of cumulative repeat episodes of BZRA exposure.