The consumption of benzodiazepines in the Toulouse university hospital from 1980 to 1991 was investigated. During this period, total annual consumption of benzodiazepines as anxiolytics remained stable, whereas their prescription as hypnotics fell (-70%). Moreover, short half-life benzodiazepines as hypnotics were preferred to long half-life ones. In parallel, there was an enhancement in new (zopiclone, zolpidem, buspirone) and old (alimemazine, hydroxyzine) drugs' consumption, the ratio benefits/risks of which have not yet been well defined.