Medicines associated with dependence or withdrawal symptoms: safe prescribing and withdrawal management for adults

Multicomponent withdrawal interventions: What are the key components of an effective multicomponent intervention to support dose reduction during withdrawal of opioids?

Psychological interventions to support withdrawal: What are the most effective psychological interventions to support withdrawal and help people cope with withdrawal symptoms?

Service models for withdrawal interventions: What service models are most effective in supporting withdrawal from medicines associated with dependence and withdrawal symptoms?

Individual circumstances and the risk of dependence: Do individual circumstances such as social distress, low income or limited access to alternative sources of support lead to an increased risk of problems associated with dependence on prescribed medicines?

Information for family members or carers: What information and support are needed by family members or carers of people having treatment with an opioid, benzodiazepine, Z‑drug, antidepressant or gabapentinoid?

System-level factors and the risk of dependence: Do system-level factors, such as training received by prescribers alter the risk of developing problems associated with dependence on prescribed medicines?

Converting to a medicine with a different half‑life to aid withdrawal: What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of converting to medicines with a longer half‑life to aid withdrawal from benzodiazepines or antidepressants?

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to support withdrawal from benzodiazepines: What is the most effective model of CBT, including timing of CBT, to support withdrawal from benzodiazepines?

Acupuncture to support withdrawal from opioids: What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of acupuncture (including electroacupuncture) as an adjunct to aid withdrawal from opioids?

Withdrawal interventions for gabapentinoids: What are the most clinically and cost-effective strategies or interventions to aid withdrawal of gabapentinoids?

Aids to support withdrawal: What is the effectiveness of equipment, technologies, practical aids and medicine formulations in supporting people to manage dose reductions, compared with usual practice?