Scotland Trials Valium Prescriptions to Curb Addiction Deaths

In November 2025, a three-year, £2.6 million trial at Stirling University is set to begin, targeting heroin addicts who also use dangerous benzodiazepine pills. The study will assess whether prescribing a steady dose of diazepam, often known as valium, alongside additional psychological and harm reduction support can help stabilize addicts and reduce drug-related deaths.

Scotland has struggled with a high rate of drug overdoses, driven by the illicit trade in benzodiazepine pills that are often mixed with other substances like heroin and alcohol. The new intervention combines a prescribed dose of diazepam (up to 30mg) with tailored support to address underlying issues like trauma. Researchers will measure the use of high-risk street benzodiazepines and the cost-effectiveness of the approach over a 12-month follow-up period.

The trial, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, has been welcomed by the Scottish government as an effort to provide evidence-based treatment options and save lives. However, some addiction recovery advocates argue that the money would be better spent on abstinence-based rehabilitation and peer-led aftercare programs rather than "managed decline" through prescription drugs.