I would like to tell you about Barry Haslam, who is a tenacious activist around the problem of prescription benzodiazepines – a class of drug which is a type of tranquilliser. Many people who have been prescribed drugs for ‘psychiatric diagnoses’ will be familiar with having either a benzodiazepine such as lorazepam, diazepam or clonazepam or a ‘z-drug’ added to their list of drugs – either to help them sleep or to ‘calm’ agitation or anxiety.
Barry was working for his final exams at Manchester university, while simultaneously holding down two jobs and raising a young family when he had what he describes as a complete breakdown. He was prescribed benzodiazepines – Librium (chlordiazepoxide), Valium (diazepam) and Ativan (lorazepam). He has NO memories whatsoever of that time period – from ages 32 to 42 -not of family life or work……and memories have never returned.
Despite that Barry has worked for several Chartered Accountancy firms and has a FMAAT (Fellow Member Association Accounting Technicians) distinction.
He took these drugs for 10 years before he completely withdrew from them in March 1986. It was at this point that he began to research the problems he had acquired as a result of taking these drugs – ‘permanent brain damage’, neuropathic pain, fatigue, chronic daily headache.
He went on to chair Oldham Tranx, a peer support group founded in 1989. In 2004 Barry was instrumental in setting up the only NHS service dedicated to support patients trying to withdraw from benzodiazepines and was awarded the ‘Man of Oldham’ award to honour his campaigning efforts in 2007.
Barry has been actively campaigning for the last 30 years, and along with his wife, has run a voluntary advice service from their home to help others and give the benefits of their own experiences.
Barry has given oral evidence to the House of Commons and to the Health Select Committee, and also presented evidence to the EU in Brussels. Barry still continues to lobby his MP, write letters, has spoken on various TV channels and also the radio – all in an effort to bring the medical disaster of the long-term dependence problems and persistent harms from the use of prescribed benzodiazepines into the public awareness.
These are some extracts from BBC Radio 4 recording of ‘Face the Facts’ in 2010 made by the then Public Health Minister Ann Milton MP after she had visited the Oldham’ benzodiazepine drug withdrawal services:-
” I’ve met people who’ve been addicted to benzodiazepines for 20 or 30 years. Wrecked their lives, wrecked their jobs, wrecked their families.”
“It’s a silent addiction.”
“We all know about illegal drugs, we all know about alcohol, we don’t know about this group. I think there has been some denial of the problem and i think that when you’re talking about drugs that are legally, albeit unwisely, prescribed causing a problem….. you know it’s never really fitted anywhere.”
“Nobody wanted to grab hold of it.”
“Certainly not in denial now. We are going to get a grip of this and it needs to be dealt with on a number of different fronts, there’s no doubt about that.”
“I’m taking this very seriously.”
“It’s an issue that has fallen through the cracks. We want to make sure that training and awareness is raised so that GP’s know how to prescribe well and then we need to make sure, that we’ve got the right services in place. To give them the help and support they need to get off these drugs and get back and enjoy lives as they should be able to.”
But despite all of Barry’s concerted efforts, and all the failed political promises and reassurances from various government ministers, he has seen come and go, there has been little change throughout the years. He likens his battle to that which has been fought over the Post Office Scandal, the Blood Scandal and other recent cover ups which have taken years and years to finally lead to action from the government.
To quote Barry “I have always said that this issue is political and our politicians are in bed with the vested interests ie Pharma, Licensing Authorities and the medical profession- Power, control and dependence over the masses”.
His determination is more than admirable, it is frankly astonishing that he has not given up despite the fact that he has been asked to stop talking about benzodiazepine dependency and harm, and to stop writing to various people. Barry is a victim but one with such a big heart, that he does not wish any individual, or any family to have to go through what he has suffered all these years. He just wants to see justice for the millions of victims, some of whom have not survived and many of whom have had their lives destroyed as a result of benzodiazepines. He wants doctors and politicians to honour the important adage ‘First Do NO Harm’
He also says “I would like to pay tribute to our loved ones. In my case my lovely wife Sue, who has supported and nursed me through an ‘experience’ unlike any other. She was and is my ROCK. Later when I started to recover a little further, my 2 daughters understood what had happened to me and we are now a very close family as a result.”
“We have been brought together through this medical disaster and are the stronger for it.”
“My near 50 years’ experience of benzodiazepines has made me mentally stronger, made our family a loving one, made me campaign to help others and to affect government change. Made me appreciate every minute of every single day.I will never get back those 10 lost years but I have found God and my soul again.”
Barry is such an example of persistence and determination, that it is easy to wonder at my own efforts in comparison. But I am persuaded that if we are able to use the anger and rage which is a reasonable emotional reaction to the horrors that some of us have endured as a result of the medicalisation or psychiatrisation of our distress, to fuel our energy – then we will be heard. For Barry, his efforts are concentrated around the use and misuse of benzodiazepines, the lack of transparency, the denial of harm and the failure to put things right. We may be on different paths but we have allies all over the UK and all over the world.
Thank you Barry! We are with you in spirit and hope that some day soon, you will be rewarded for all the efforts you have made in your activism.
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Mad in the UK hosts blogs by a diverse group of writers. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own.