Tranquillizers placed under controls.

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On the basis of a recommendation by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Commission on Narcotic Drugs has decided to place 33 widely prescribed tranquillizers, known as benzodiazepines, under international control -- requiring, among other restrctions, that they be dispensed only by prescription.

Foremost on the list is diazepam, a psychotropic drug sold under dozens of brand names, including Valium. Among other brand names are: Alboral in Mexico; Anding in China; Anzepam and Calmpose in India; Dialag in Switzerland; Pacitran in Brazil; Saromet it Argentina; Sedavil in Japan; Sedapam and Tensium in the United Kingdom.

This class of drugs -- used to lessen anxiety, to induce sleep and to reduce muscular spasms -- has proven therapeutic value, but has been shown to be dependence-producing. Misuse and abuse lead to public health and social problems, according to WHO.

The recommendation to place these tranquillizers under international control follows a year-long, drug-by-drug review by WHO of all benzodiazepines available commercially at the end of February 1983. Data from a number of sources, including industry and Interpol, served as a basis for the recommendations.

As part of the WHO review of this class of drugs, requests for information on various benzodiazepines were sent to all States.

Many countries did not feel that abuse of these substances was a serious public health problem, although in some countries there had been a definite and rapid increase in the number of abuse cases. Sweden, for example, noted that the abuse of hypnotic-sedative drugs was almost of the same magnitude as that of abuse of alcohol. Such abuse, some countries noted, could impair driving ability or diminish the capacity for work.

Most countries indicated that preparations containing benzodiazepines could only be sold on medical prescription. In the opinion of the United States, these drugs were very safe "when used at therapeutic dose levels". The United States and several other countries were of the view that risk of abuse rises significantly when benzodiazepines are used in conjunction with other drugs or with alcohol.

Pentazocine: WHO had also made a recommendation concerning the inclusion of pentazocine, a pain-killer, under Schedule III of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It based its recommendations on evidence demonstrating that pentazocine had the capacity to produce a state of dependence and central nervous system changes resulting in disturbances of mood and behaviour. WHO said it was being abused and constituted a public health and social problem, warranting the placing of the substance under international control. In the United States, pentazocine is sold commercially under the name "Talwin".

The Commission had first decided to include pentazocine in Schedule IV of the 1971 Convention, but then reconsidered the matter and voted (34 to 1, with 5 abstentions) to include it under the more stringent control of Schedule III. This would require that it not only be dispensed by prescription, but that it also be subject to more detailed record-keeping. Alfentanil: In response to a notification from the Government of Belgium, WHO had examined relevant evidence and found that alfentanil had a pharmacological profile closely resembling that of morphine. There was a general consensus to include alfentanil in Schedule I of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.

These actions were taken at the eighth special session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which was held at the Vienna International Centre from 6 to 10 February. This was the first Commission meeting since its membership was enlarged under a 1983 resolution, from 30 to 40 as of 1 January 1984, (E/1983/5) Drug Abuse Toll

Tamar Oppenheimer, Director of the Division of Narcotic Drugs, gave the Commission an overview of...