A pressed yellow pill with a score mark expected to contain lorazepam was found to contain zolpidem (‘Ambien’ or ‘Stilnox’) also.

What does this mean?

Zolpidem is a ‘Z-drug’ which is a medication with benzodiazepine-like effects normally used to treat insomnia. This is the first time that zolpidem, or any other Z-drug, has been detected in a benzodiazepine sample at CanTEST.

Effects of both benzos (like lorazepam – also in this sample) and zolpidem can include drowsiness, dizziness, memory loss and impaired coordination. The timeframes for onset and half-life can vary greatly between different benzos and Z-drugs. Overdose risks can include respiratory depression, causing death. Because of this, you should wait longer intervals before using another depressant (over 72 hours in some cases) to avoid the risk of an overdose.

Your risk of harm is significantly increased if using depressants such as alcohol, GHB or opioids with benzos, consuming multiple different benzos in one pill, consuming benzos with z-drugs or by consuming multiple pills.

It’s easy to develop a physical dependency to both benzos and z-drugs. Avoid daily use, and avoid using them for prolonged time periods. If you suspect you might be physically dependent, speak to a health professional you trust before cutting back or stopping suddenly.

Abruptly stopping benzo use can come with significant health risks.

Don’t mix it with alcohol or other depressants. Remember, some benzos can have effects that last multiple days after use.

Start low, go slow. Try a test dose first and never use alone.

Be alert for signs of an overdose. Think someone has overdosed? Call 000 for an ambulance immediately.

Test your stuff! A global trend is that unregulated or counterfeit pharmaceuticals, such as benzodiazepines, are becoming more common and very convincing, making them hard to distinguish from legitimate pharmaceutical products. Often these counterfeit products contain unexpected substances. In some cases, there are several different benzos inside a single pill – drastically raising the risk for users.