The Misuse & Overprescription of Alprazolam

Tens of thousands of Australians are prescribed Alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax, to treat panic disorders, with people ideally taking the medication for no more than a few weeks, rather than chronically. However, over-prescription and inappropriate use are a very real cause for concern, particularly considering the drug’s addictive nature. We were joined by Dr Andrea Schaffer, an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellow in the Medicines Policy Research Unit at the Centre for Big Data Research in Health, to discuss the overprescription and misuse of Alprazolam, and what needs to be done to fix this ongoing issue.