UK Information
• Note: For the latest APPGITA information please go to the APPGITA page. For the latest news stories see the Media Archive.
• In the UK and interested in taking legal action against your prescriber? Contact Miss Caroline Moore, Medical Solicitors, Unit 8B, South West Centre, Troutbeck Road, Sheffield S8 0JR. Visit website.
• Hooked on Valium, Part 2: The scandal of government inaction, Niall McCrae, TCW London, November 21, 2023.
• Hooked on Valium, Part 1: How drug companies manufactured dependence, Niall McCrae, TCW London, November 20, 2023.
• 'Thirty years on, I still have symptoms from taking benzodiazepines', The Telegraph, March 17, 2023.
• The Dirty True Story about Benzodiazepines and the British Medical Association, Dr Vernon Coleman, November 10, 2016.
• Supporting individuals affected by prescribed drugs associated with dependence and withdrawal, BMA, October 6 & 24, 2016.
• British Medical Association calls for national prescription drug helpline, BMA, October 24, 2016.
• Doctors' leaders call for prescription drug helpline, BBC News, October 23, 2016.
• Dangers of Prescribed Tranquillisers (Benzodiazepines), Barry Haslam, Centre for Welfare Reform, 2016.
• Diazepam, Oxazepam, Lorazepam, Temazepam and other benzodiazepines…involuntary addiction, Caroline Moore, December 14, 2015.
• Misprescribing of a benzo leads to £1.35m settlement for Luke Montagu, Council for Evidence-Based Psychiatry, July 18, 2015.
• Recovering From Benzodiazepines. A guide for carers who are helping people to recover from benzodiazepine dependence.
• Depression and Anxiety – the Benzo Connection, AntiDepAware.
• Addiction to Prescription Drugs Video, Barry Haslam, ADS, December 20, 2013.
• Question by Jim Dobbin MP, Prime Minister's Questions and Reply, October 23, 2013.
• Prescribed Drugs Seminar, Speech by Barry Haslam, Portcullis House, July 9, 2013.
• Solutions to the tranquilliser trap, Letters to The Times, Professor Lader, October 6, 2012.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Steve Taylor, National Treatment Agency, September 5, 2012.
• Benzodiazepine Service Report, Addiction Dependency Solutions, June 18, 2012.
• Minister of State for Public Health visits Oldham to discuss prescription drug issues, ADS, June 15, 2012.
• The Earl Sandwich: Oral Question, House of Lords, July 12, 2012.
• Jim Dobbin MP announces European benzodiazepine enquiry, June 14, 2012, June 14, 2012.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Iain Duncan Smith MP, DWP, May 28, 2012.
• Comments on the latest draft of the DoH consensus statement, Professor C Heather Ashton, May 15, 2012.
• Letter from Professor C Heather Ashton to Anne Milton MP, Public Health Minister, April 24, 2012.
• Email from Josh Jarrett to Mark Edgington, Dept of Health, April 6, 2012.
• The Benzodiazepine Scandal, An Open Letter, Ray Nimmo, March 20, 2012.
• The David Horrobin Controversy, Ray Nimmo, March 15, 2012.
• Mind in Camden - Minor Tranquilliser Project Service Review, March 2012.
• Hypnotics' association with mortality or cancer, Kripke DF, Langer RD, Kline LE, BMJ Open, February 27, 2012.
• The Bradford Bridge Project Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Service Evaluation, Dr Beverley Bray, February 2012.
• Solicitor reinstated after tribunal accepts sleeping tablets appeal, The Independent, January 16, 2012.
• Are sleeping pills mother's NEW little helper? Daily Mail, January 2, 2012.
• Doctors sued for creating 'Valium addicts', The Independent, December 29, 2011.
• It's time we realised these drugs are a threat to society, The Independent, December 29, 2011.
• The Bridge Project, Bradford - Speech by Professor C Heather Ashton, December 2011.
• Benzo Nation, British Medical Association, October 22, 2011.
• Email from Jim Dobbin, MP to Anne Milton, Public Health Minister, September 5, 2011.
• Message from Jim Dobbin MP to APPGITA Supporters, August 21, 2011.
• Tranquilliser addicts need help, BBC NW Tonight (Video Clip), August 15, 2011.
• Tranquilliser addicts need help: Labour MP Jim Dobbin, BBC North West Tonight, August 15, 2011.
• Example of a complaint to the GMC about a doctor ignoring the BNF guidelines on benzos.
• Barry Haslam on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours, August 4, 2011 (17.29 minutes in).
• Response to Dr Heath, President of the RCGP, Professor C H Ashton, August 2, 2011.
• Is your doctor turning you into a drug addict? Daily Mail, August 2, 2011.
• Dr Gerada's uninformed comments about benzo addiction and withdrawal, John Perrott, July 31, 2011.
• Life addicted to prescription drugs, BBC News, July 27, 2011.
• Prescribed Addiction, BBC Radio 4 Face the Facts (including transcript), July 27, 2011.
• Professor who wrote Coalition health policy was paid by drugs firm, The Independent, July 26, 2011.
• Iatrogenesis and Our Benzodiazepine Secret, Addiction Today, July 20, 2011.
• Addiction to OTC and Prescribed Medicines: Up a Primrose Path, Addiction Today, July 20, 2011.
• Benzo Reports 2011: Conflict of Interests, Addiction Today, July 20, 2011.
• Addiction to benzodiazepines and codeine: supporting safer use, Drug Safety Update, MHRA, July 2011.
• Drug addiction and withdrawal, Earl of Sandwich, ePolitix, June 23, 2011.
• The Ashton Manual Supplement, Professor C Heather Ashton, April 7, 2011.
• John Perrott's Meeting with the Royal College of General Practitioners, Lancaster, March 28, 2011.
• Email from Mary Baker to Jim Dobbin MP, APPGITA, January 31, 2011.
• Check on benzodiazepine use must be done, say MPs, Independent on Sunday, December 5, 2010.
• Email from Dr Vernon Coleman to the Editor, Independent on Sunday, November 9, 2010.
• Drugs linked to brain damage 30 years ago, Independent on Sunday, November 7, 2010.
• Earl of Sandwich: Benzodiazepines a Priority? Independent on Sunday, November 7, 2010.
• Email from Ray Nimmo to Nic Dakin MP (and reply), October 31, 2010.
• Benzodiazepines and Brain Damage, MRC Files, 1980 - 82 (Freedom of Information disclosure, October 2010).
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Sir John Savill, Chief Executive, Medical Research Council, October 21, 2010.
• Letter from John Perrrott to Earl Howe, DoH, October 20, 2010.
• Doctors ignored drugs warnings, Oldham Chronicle, October 18, 2010.
• Earl of Sandwich appeals on behalf of Valium victims, Dorset Echo, October 17, 2010.
• Benzodiazepines Debate, Earl of Sandwich, House of Lords, October 6, 2010 (BBC News).
• The Nature and Scope of Benzodiazepine and "Z" Drug Prescribing in Wales, Welsh Medicines Partnership, September, 2010.
• APPGITA web site - Action Platform for Patients' Group on Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction.
• Letter from John Perrott to Dora East, Department of Health, July 28, 2010.
• Letter from The Earl of Sandwich to Anne Milton MP, Health Minister, July 9, 2010.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Anne Milton MP, Health Minister, July 6, 2010.
• Ministers declare war on Britain's tranquilliser crisis, The Independent on Sunday, July 4, 2010.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Prime Minister David Cameron, June 24, 2010.
• Parliamentary Questions, The Earl of Sandwich, June 17, 2010.
• Prime Minister's Questions, Jim Dobbin MP, House of Commons, June 16, 2010.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Edwina Hart AM, Welsh Assembly Health Minister, June 15, 2010.
• Second Letter from John Perrrott to Dr June Raine, MHRA, June 9, 2010.
• Tranquilliser Research Project in Wales, June 8, 2010.
• Notice for Members and Supporters of the APPGITA, June 7, 2010.
• Letter from Dr June Raine, MHRA to John Perrrott, June 3, 2010.
• Letter from Dora East (DoH) to John Perrott, May 28, 2010.
• Third Letter from John Perrott to Dora East, Dept of Health, May 20, 2010.
• Second Letter from John Perrott to Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, May 20, 2010.
• Letter from John Perrrott to Dr June Raine, MHRA, April 26, 2010.
• Letter from John Perrrott to Dr June Raine, MHRA, April 26, 2010.
• Letter from Dora East, Dept of Health to John Perrott, April 15, 2010.
• Correspondence between Barry Haslam and Phil Woolas (Labour Candidate), April 2010
• Letter from Gillian Merron MP to Jim Dobbin MP, April 7, 2010.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Gillian Merron MP, Dept. of Health, April 6, 2010.
• Letter from Ben Wallace MP (Lancaster & Wyre) to John Perrott, April 1, 2010.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Gillian Merron MP, Dept. of Health, March 18, 2010.
• Letter from Gillian Merron MP to Jim Dobbin MP, March 3, 2010.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Alan Johnson MP, Home Office, February 8, 2010.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to Gillian Merron MP, Dept. of Health, February 2, 2010.
• Letter from Jim Dobbin MP to to Alan Johnson MP, Home Office, January 18, 2010.
• Health: Side Effects of Medication, The Earl of Sandwich, House of Lords (Hansard), November 3, 2009.
• Action on Britain's epidemic of pill addiction, The Independent, October 31, 2009.
• Camouflage for Medical Practice or Real Assistance? Colin Downes-Grainger, September 11, 2009.
• The Patient is always Right? Colin Downes-Grainger, August 21, 2009.
• An Appeal from Mary Baker, Benzo Campaigner, July 17, 2009.
• Dancing Round the Awful Truth (PDF), Colin Downes-Grainger, July 2, 2009.
• Addiction to Medicines, House of Commons Hansard Debates, June 16, 2009.
• Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction, Michael Behan, Addiction Today, May 12, 2009.
• Letter from Barry Haslam to Chris Davies MEP, Aril 10, 2009.
• An Appeal from Barry Haslam, April 9, 2009.
• Letter to Department of Health on Protocol (PDF), Colin Downes-Grainger, March 12, 2009.
• The Impossibility of Dialogue with the Department of Health, Colin Downes-Grainger, March 10, 2009.
• Letter to Lord Morris, Colin Downes-Grainger, March 7, 2009.
• Letter to Lord Winston, Colin Downes-Grainger, March 6, 2009.
• A Tale of Two Scandals (PDF), Colin Downes-Grainger, February 25, 2009.
• APPG for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction, Newsletter 4, February 24, 2009.
• A Tale of Two Scandals (PDF), Colin Downes-Grainger, February 25, 2009.
• Illegal v Legal Benzodiazepine addiction, Colin Downes-Grainger, January 28, 2009.
• APPG for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction, Alternative Report, January 22, 2009.
• An Inquiry into Physical Dependence and Addiction to Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medication. Gemma Reay, Parliamentary researcher to Dr Brian Iddon, MP (PDF 699KB), January 21, 2009.
• Addiction over the counter, Daily Mail, January 21, 2009.
• No support for 'over the counter addicts', Oldham Chronicle, January 21, 2009.
• Letter to Health Minister Dawn Primarolo MP, Colin Downes-Grainger, December 19, 2008.
• Professor David Nutt - a man with a mission (PDF), Colin Downes-Grainger, December 11, 2008.
• Recovery Road. UK Benzodiazepine Withdrawal website and Counselling Service.
• Benzodiazepines and Coming off Medication (video), Professor Heather Ashton, Dr. Joanna Moncrieff, Prof. David Healy and Adam Jhugroom, APRIL conference, November 2008. More April videos.
• Prescribing Influences in Mental Health (video), Professor Heather Ashton, APRIL conference, November 2008. More April videos.
• Review of Adverse psychiatric side effects of medicines: APRIL charity's third conference, The Pharmaceutical Journal, November 29, 2008 (PDF).
• Proceedings from Adverse psychiatric side effects of medicines: APRIL charity's third conference, Sara Bostock, November, 2008 (PDF).
• Adverse psychiatric side effects of medicines: what's our responsibility? APRIL charity's third conference, London, November 6, 2008. Click for details/registration (PDF).
• Randomised controlled trial of two brief interventions against long-term benzodiazepine use: cost-effectiveness, Christine Godfrey, Nick Heather, Alison Bowie, Jennifer Brodie, Steve Parrott, Heather Ashton & Brian McAvoy, August 2008 (PDF).
• Randomised controlled trial of two brief interventions against long-term benzodiazepine use: outcome of intervention, Nick Heather, Alison Bowie, Heather Ashton, Brian McAvoy, Ian Spencer, Jennifer Brodie, David Giddings, April 2004 (PDF).
• Benzo Withdrawal Realities, Colin Downes-Grainger, July 23, 2008.
• State Benefits, Tranquillisers and the DWP, Colin Downes-Grainger, July 22, 2008.
• Tranquilliser Dissonance, Colin Downes-Grainger, July 9, 2008.
• The Lock on Pandora's Box, BBC Watch Politics Show West: Tranquillisers, A Critique, Colin Downes-Grainger, June 24, 2008.
• Tranquilliser Questions - Avoiding Answers (PDF), Colin Downes-Grainger, June 2, 2008.
• APPG for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction, Newsletter 2, March 25, 2008.
• Letter from the Office of Nick Clegg MP to Barry Haslam, February 29, 2008.
• APPG Manifesto on Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction, February 12, 2008.
• APPG for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction, Newsletter 1, January 22, 2008.
• Letter from Chris Davies MEP to Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Health, November 8, 2007.
• Letter from Barry Haslam to Phil Woolas MP, October 10, 2007.
• Petition: Help for medically induced addicts of benzodiazepines. To provide facilities to help the 1.5 million in the UK addicted to benzodiazepines and Z drugs come off these prescription drugs safely, and to help people regain their mental and physical health, and to educate GPs and psychiatrists that these drugs should be prescribed for no longer than 4 weeks.
• The role of the pharmaceutical companies in the treatment of mental ill health, Professor C Heather Ashton, DM, FRCP, Durham, May 18, 2007.
• Legal Drug Addiction Advertisement, Oldham Chronicle, February 26, 2007. (PDF). Oldham Chronicle, February 26, 2007 (PDF).
• Professor C H Ashton's Reply to Health Minister Rosie Winterton, January 9, 2007.
• The First Duty of the State is the Protection of Citizens? (PDF), Colin Downes-Grainger, January 2007.
• Benzodiazepines: Problems & ? Solutions, Professor C H Ashton, All-Party Action Group on Tranquilliser Addiction, House of Commons, London November 7, 2006.
• End the Addiction Advertisement, published in The Independent on October 27, 2006. (opens in new window).
• Valium became my illness, Daily Express, April 11, 2006 (PDF).
• An Open Letter on the Human Tragedy of Benzodiazepines in the UK (PDF), Colin Downes-Grainger, January 2006.
• A Medico-Legal Scandal – and still it continues, Simon Kaberry, 2006
• Benzodiazepines: How they Work & How to Withdraw (The Ashton Manual), 2002. Now available online.
• Beat the Benzos Index Page · 2000 Campaign · 2002-2005 Campaign
• Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry, Health Committee (Paul Flynn MP, Phil Woolas MP), House of Commons, November 25, 2004.
• The Benzodiazepines, Health Select Committee Submission, Michael Behan, August 30, 2004.
• Influence of the Pharmaceutical industry, Mary Baker, Health Select Committee Submission, 2004 (PDF).
• A Call for EU Guidelines on the Prescribing of Benzodiazepines, Barry Haslam, February, 2004.
• Benzodiazepines warning, Chief Medical Officer's Update 37, Patient Safety, Department of Health, January 2004.
• Health Minister Rosie Winterton's letter to John Grogan MP, January 11, 2004 · Reply by Professor C H Ashton, January 30, 2004 · Reply by Pam Armstrong (CITA), February 17, 2004.
• The Benzodiazepines, Home Office Submission, Michael Behan, July 26, 2003.
• Request to Review the Current Status of the Benzodiazepines, Home Office Submission, Susan Bibby, July 7, 2003.
• Benzodiazepines: A Hidden Epidemic, May 2003 by Susan Bibby.
• Beat the Benzos Campaign 2002: Launched at House of Commons, November 18, 2002.
• Memorandum submitted by Barry Haslam, United Kingdom Parliament: Home Affairs - Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence, Appendix 5, November 2001, prepared 22 May 2002.
• Sussex Health Authority: Benzodiazepine Withdrawal, 2001.
• Benzodiazepines, House of Commons, Hansard Debates, 4 December 2001.
• Benzodiazepines, House of Commons, Hansard Debates, 7 December 1999.
• Role for pharmacists in reducing the problem of benzodiazepine addiction, The Pharmaceutical Journal, May 19, 2001.
• The Tranquilliser Trap, Panorama, BBC1, 10.20pm BST, May 13, 2001. Press Reports & Links.
• The Benzodiazepines: Toxicity, Cognitive Impairment, Long-Term Damage & The Post Withdrawal Syndrome, Dr R F Peart BSc, PhD, December 2000.
• Victims of Tranquillisers (VOT), Founder: Dr Reg Peart, Objectives & Activities.
• Benzodiazepines: A Risk Factor in Sudden Infant Death? Susan Bibby, Beat The Benzos Conference Speech, London, November 1, 2000.
• Tranquilliser Hell, Dr Trisha Macnair, March 13, 2000.
• Benzodiazepine Tranquillisers and Hypnotics: Evidence submitted to the House of Commons Health Committee 1999, sixth report, Professor C Heather Ashton, DM, FRCP.
• The Benzodiazepines: House of Commons Health Committee Inquiry on Procedures related to Adverse Clinical Incidents & Outcomes in Medical Care, June 1999.
• Memorandum by Dr Reg Peart, Select Committee on Health, June 1999.
• Transcript of Verbal Submission, The Benzodiazepines, Dr R F Peart, June 30th 1999.
• Comments on issues raised, at the Health Committee Inquiry on 24th June 1999, The Benzodiazepines, 30th June 1999.
• Additional answers to questions on 24th June 1999.
• Benzodiazepines: BBC Radio 4 Face The Facts, March 16, 1999. Transcript.
• Benzodiazepines: The Management of Dependence and Withdrawal, UK Department of Health, 1999.
• Talk Radio UK Interview with Mike Dicken and Susan Bibby, December 5, 1998.
• "Tranquilliser Addiction – A Medically-Induced Epidemic", by Dr Reg Peart, June 15, 1998.
• Submission to Phil Woolas MP with regard to a Health Select Committee inquiring into the Benzodiazepines by Dr Reg Peart, 25 March 1998.
• Benzodiazepine Tranquillisers : Extract : ECHR Application, January 1998.
• Avoid benzodiazepines in pregnancy and lactation, 1997 MCA/CSM Reminder.
• A Doctor's Dilemma, Dr Margot Nelson-Owen, British Medical Journal, Volume 315, August 30, 1997.
• Opinion of Counsel for the Tranquilliser Addiction Solicitors' Group: Ativan Cases, March 27, 1997.
• Benzodiazepines and their effects, Professor Ian Hindmarch, January, 1997.
• Benzodiazepine Addiction – An Introduction, VOT Newsletter, 1995.
• A Series of Benzodiazepine Articles, by Liz Wood, VOT, (Victims of Tranquillisers).
• Two Letters to Barry Haslam from David Blunkett MP and Paul Boateng MP regarding Benzodiazepine Tranquillisers, 1994.
• Anxiety and Insomnia, UK Mental Health Foundation Publication, 1994.
• Benzos and Memory Loss: More Than Just "Old Age", Lader M., Prescriber 1992; 3: 13.
• History of Benzodiazepine Dependence, Professor Malcolm Lader, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 8: 53-59, 1991 (PDF).
• Benzodiazepines and your patients: a management programme, Roche Products Ltd, ca. 1990.
• Benzodiazepines: Effect, House of Lords Debate, Hansard, July 21, 1988.
• Benzodiazepines, Dependence & Withdrawal Symptoms, Committee on Safety of Medicines, January 1988.
• Defendant acquitted of murder due to excessive prescriptive doses of Valium, Law Society Gazette, July 22, 1987.
• Extracts from: "Life Without Tranquillisers", Dr Vernon Coleman, MB, ChB, DSc (Hon), 1985.
• Sleeping Pills and Tranquillisers, Dr Norma Williams & Hetty Einzig, 1985.
• Side-Effects of Librium, The Lancet, 1960.
• Computed axial brain tomography in long-term benzodiazepine users, Lader MH, Ron M, Petursson H, Psychological Med., 14, 203-206 (1984).
• Benzodiazepine Brain Damage - Correspondence between Professor Malcolm Lader and Professor Robert Cawley, January 1982.
• Hypnotics and anxiolytics, BNF (British National Formulary).
• Quotations.
• Aggression, Violence & Benzodiazepines.
• Bristol and District Tranquilliser Project.
• NECA (North East Council for Addiction), Bridge View House, 15 - 23 City Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 2AF · Tel: 0191 222 1262 · Fax: 0191 263 9908 · Email: newcastlebvh@neca.co.uk. Professor Heather Ashton is a member of the NECA Executive Committee.
• Oldham Tranx, Founder: Barry Haslam.
• CITAp (formerly CITA) - The Council for Information on Tranquillisers, Antidepressants and Painkillers, JDI Centre, 3-11 Mersey View, Waterloo, Liverpool L22 6QA, England UK. Tel: 0151 474 9626, Fax: 0151 284 8324. Helpline: 0151 932 0102 (Mondays to Fridays 10am-1pm). Advice and support for people addicted to tranquillisers and sleeping tablets. Information, advice and leaflets available on anxiety, tranquillisers and anti-depressants. Training offered for professionals.
• Benzodiazepines & Therapies, Pam Armstrong, The Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction (CITA), Liverpool, England.
• The relevance of mind altering drugs to the counselling process, Pam Armstrong, The Council for Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction (CITA), Liverpool, England.
• Pam Armstrong's (CITA) Back To Life Web Site.
• Sue Bibby's Pages at faxfn.
• Dangerous Prescriptions, faxfn.
• The Drugs Myth, Dr Vernon Coleman.
• Anxiety and depression are overdiagnosed, Dr Vernon Coleman.
• APRIL.ORG.UK. Adverse Psychiatric Reactions Information Link.
« back · top · www.benzo.org.uk »
