Table 3 Approximate quantities of prescribed and illicit benzodiazepine and opioid used, other prescribed and illicit medication taken reported by participants in each co-use pattern

Prescribed BZ, Z and OP (including total daily doses where stated)

Methadone 70-80mg^b(n = 4)

Long acting injectable buprenorphine 128 mg (n = 1)

Dihydrocodeine

NS^c (n = 1)

Methadone

NS^c (n = 1)

Buprenorphine 14mg^b (n = 2)

Buprenorphine 6-16mg^b (n = 2)

Methadone

60-160mg^b (n = 4)

Heroin Assisted treatment

140 mg total dose taken in 2 sittings (n = 1)

Methadone

38-120mg^b (n = 8)

Buprenorphine 8- 16mg^b (n = 1)

Long acting injectable buprenorphine

NS^c (n = 1)

Morphine (110 mg) (n = 1)

Methadone

40-160mg^b (n = 7)

Buprenorphine 8-16mg^b (n = 2)

Long acting injectable buprenorphine NS^c (n = 2)

Methadone

80-90mg^b (n = 3)

Buprenorphine 8mg^b (n = 2)

Long acting injectable buprenorphine

NS^c (n = 2)

Prescribed BZ and Z (including total daily doses where stated)

Diazepam

6-30 mg (n = 2)

Diazepam 30 mg (n = 1)

None reported

Nitrazepam 20mg^d (n = 1)

Diazepam 30mg^d (n = 1)

Diazepam

25-30 mg (n = 5)

Diazepam 22 mg (n = 1) this is prescribed on a weekly pick-up and this participant takes all 7 doses for the week in one day (154 mg)

Diazepam

12-35 mg (n = 6)

Diazepam

4 mg (n = 2)

Diazepam 30 mg (splits the dose, spreading the 6 5 mg tablets throughout the afternoon and evening) (n = 1)

Illicit OP (including total daily doses where stated)^e

Heroin

NS^c (n = 1)

Heroin

3 × 0.4 g bags/day, smoked (n = 1) / a couple of lines (n = 1)

Co-codamol 20/day (n = 1)

None reported

Heroin

NS^c (n = 2)

Oxycontin

NS^c (n = 1)

Heroin

NS^c (n = 5)

Oxycodone

NS^c (n = 1)

Heroin

0.2–1.75 g (n = 10)

Morphine

NS^c (n = 1)

(very occasional) heroin

0.2–1.2 g (n = 4)

Illicit BZ and Z (including total daily doses where stated)^f

Zopiclone

3 a day approx. 22.5 mg (n = 1)

Street diazepam

15 a day (150 mg) (n = 1) / NS^c (n = 1)

Zopiclone

2 a day

approx. 15 mg (n = 1)

Street diazepam 1–5 tablets / day approx. 10-50 mg (n = 3)

Street BZ (clonazepam, diazepam, alprazolam or temazepam) aims to take approx. 40 mg BZ dose each day – but varies which BZ they take each day (n = 1)

Zopiclone up to 10 × 7.5 mg (n = 1)

Zopiclone 10 a day approx. 75 mg

(n = 1)

Street diazepam approx. 40 mg (n = 1) / up to 12 tablets / day NS^c (n = 1)

Zopiclone

10 approx. 75 mg

(n = 3)

Street diazepam (20 -75 tablets or more) NS^c (n = 3)

diverted diazepam 18 × 2 mg tablets (36 mg) (n = 1)

alprazolam (120 mg)(n = 1)

online or diverted clonazepam 200 × 2 mg tablets (0.2 g) (n = 1), NS^c (n = 1)

Zopiclone, 30–40 3.75 mg blue tablets approx. 150 mg (n = 1)

Street diazepam 20—500 tablets /day NS^c (n = 11)

Diverted/online diazepam sold as 10 mg takes approx. 40 mg in the morning and then as and when needed throughout the day (total daily dose not stated) (n = 1)

Online BZ alprazolam, diazepam, nitrazepam or clonazepam 30 tablets a day day NS^c (n = 1)

Zopiclone 12 tablets a day NS^c (n = 1)

Online BZ—takes alprazolam, diazepam, or clonazepam, 30 tablets, of one of the above BZ, each sold as 2 mg strength, approx. 60 mg total dose (n = 1)

Street diazepam (yellows, sold as 5 mg) taken in handfuls (estimates up to 80 tablets) 400 mg total dose (n = 1)

Diverted diazepam (20 mg) (n = 1)

Diverted or street diazepam 15 (n = 1), 50 (n = 1), 100 per day (n = 1) NS^c

Other illicit /bought substances takene

Pregabalin NS^c (n = 2)

Cocaine (n = 1) NS^c

Crack cocaine NS^c (n = 1)

Alcohol (n = 1) approx. 18 units/week

Ketamine NS^c (n = 1)

Cocaine NS^c (n = 2)

Crack cocaine NS^c (n = 1)

Alcohol (n = 2, 3—12 units/day)

Occasional alcohol (a few units/week) (n = 1)

Alcohol (up to 10 units, 2–3 times / week) (n = 1)

Pregabalin NS^c (n = 1)

Cocaine NS^c (n = 1)

Crack cocaine NS^c (n = 1)

Cannabis NS^c (n = 2)

Alcohol (4–6 cans cider or lager /day) (n = 1)

Pregabalin NS^c (n = 2)

Crack cocaine NS^c (n = 1)

Cocaine NS^c (n = 2)

Cannabis NS^c (n = 3)

Alcohol (up to 20 units/week) (n = 3)

Pregabalin (300-700 mg/day)(n = 6)

Crack cocaine (0.2–0.8 g) (n = 4)

Cocaine NS^c (n = 5)

Cannabis NS^c (n = 4)

Spice NS^c (n = 1)

Alcohol (n = 4) 1–12 cans cider/beer/day)

Pregabalin (300-700 mg/day)(n = 1)

Crack cocaine NS (n = 3)

Cocaine NS^c (n = 2)

Cannabis NS^c (n = 4)

Alcohol (n = 1) up to 4 cans beer/cider /day)

Other prescribed drugs

Mirtazapine (45 mg, n = 2), Olanzapine (10 mg),

Pregabalin (600 mg)

Amitriptyline (10 mg) (n = 1)

none

Quetiapine 25 mg (n = 1)

Quetiapine NS^c (n = 1)

Risperidone NS^c (n = 1)

Sertraline NS^c (n = 1)

Mirtazapine NS^c (n = 2)

Amitriptyline NS^c

(n = 1)

Pregabalin NS^c (n = 1)

Fluoxetine NS^c (N = 1)

Mirtazapine 30 mg (n = 3)

Pregabalin (100-500 mg) (n = 2)

Amitriptyline 25 mg (n = 1)

Dosulepin (75 mg in 2 doses) (n = 1)

Mirtazapine 30 mg (n = 2)

Naproxen NS^c (n = 1)