This study aimed to determine the consumption of
benzodiazepines without prescription among first-year students from a nursing school of a public University in Ecuador. This is a descriptive, transversal and explanatory study with a quantitative approach. A questionnaire was used for data collection. The population studied was of 181 students. The results showed that 10.5% of the students had consumed
benzodiazepine without prescription once in their lives. Of these, 6.1% consumed
benzodiazepine in the last year, and 3.9% are currently consuming it. The
diazepam was the most consumed BZD without prescription and pharmacies, were the place of higher access. The main reasons for the
benzodiazepine consumption were:
insomnia, anxiety, stress, depression, family and economical problems. The use of
benzodiazepines with non-medicinal purposes is related to problems such as
memory loss, retirement syndrome and sedation. When
benzodiazepines are consumed jointly with alcohol or other drugs they can lead to
coma or death. This study shows the serious consequences
benzodiazepines cause when used by nursing students in Ecuador.