[The addiction potential of benzodiazepines. Application of the results of treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome].

A benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome was demonstrated in this study. It occurred more frequently with use of the short-acting type of benzodiazepine and approximately 26 hours after discontinuing the regular intake of the drug as compared with approximately 4 days after stopping the regular intake of the long-acting type of benzodiazepine. These findings have a special significance in the treatment of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome, since 30% of alcoholics have been shown to have a regular intake of one of the benzodiazepines and since these are the drugs of choice in the treatment of the syndrome.