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Benzodiazepine Information Coalition
  • About BenzodiazepinesExpand
    • Benzo BasicsExpand
      • Ashton Manual
      • A Brief History Of Benzodiazepines
      • Class Actions and Lawsuits—and Reporting Harm 
      • FDA 2020 Benzodiazepine Boxed Warning
      • Medications and Supplements of Concern
      • Xanax Study Outcomes
    • PrescribingExpand
      • Addiction vs Physical Dependence
      • Genetic Testing
      • Informed Consent
      • Low Dose Benzodiazepines
      • Mechanism of Action
      • Prescribing Statistics
      • Steps to Reduce Benzodiazepine Overprescribing
      • Therapeutic Actions
    • Prescribing RisksExpand
      • Akathisia
      • Fluoroquinolones
      • Functional Brain Changes
      • Interdose Withdrawal
      • Paradoxical Reactions
      • Physical Dependence
      • Risks of Remaining on Benzodiazepines
      • Red Flags
      • Short-Term Risks
      • Side Effects
      • Suicide
      • Tolerance
    • DeprescribingExpand
      • Ashton Manual
      • Tapering Strategies and Solutions
      • Detox, Cold Turkey, Abrupt Cessation
      • Estimates of Withdrawal
      • How To Find Tapering Help
      • Dosages Prevent Safe Withdrawal
      • Why Patients Shouldn’t Go To Detox or Rehab
    • Desprescribing RisksExpand
      • Akathisia
      • Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome (BWS)
      • Forced Switching or Stopping
      • Functional Brain Changes
      • Kindling
      • Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)
      • Suicide
      • Withdrawal & Post Withdrawal Symptoms
    • Special PopulationsExpand
      • Benzodiazepines and PTSD
      • Celebrities
      • COVID-19
      • Elderly
      • Women
      • Incarcerated Population
      • Substance Use Disorders
  • About UsExpand
    • Media Kit
    • VolunteerExpand
      • Media Interview List Registration
      • Informed Consent Policy
      • FDA Reporting Program
      • Share Your Story!
  • Our Impact
  • ResourcesExpand
    • Ashton Manual
    • Benzodiazepine Tapering Strategies and Solutions
    • Financial and Disability Information
    • How To Find Tapering Help
    • Benzodiazepine Cooperative Providers
  • Blog
  • Contact UsExpand
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Benzodiazepine Information Coalition

Our Mission

Educating about the potential adverse effects of benzodiazepines taken as prescribed.

Learn More
About Us

Who we Are

We are a group of patients and medical professionals who believe the over-prescription of benzodiazepines without proper warning has resulted in a growing national epidemic of benzodiazepine injury. While we understand and respect the value of these drugs when used appropriately, deep and widespread ignorance of their risks on the part of patients and prescribers has caused enormous and preventable suffering.

Addiction or Harm?

Why Are We Solely Focused on Prescribed Use?

An analysis found that 12.5% of U.S. adults used benzodiazepines from 2015-2016, and only 0.2% met the criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD). Despite this, the mislabeling of prescribed patients as “addicted” continues in both medicine and the media, leading to confusion and dangerous, medically inappropriate treatments that can result in patient harm and protracted syndromes. This needs to change. 

Support Us

40-80%

of prescribed patients experience benzodiazepine withdrawal

10-15%

develop severe, lengthly protracted syndromes

Only 0.2%

of prescribed patients meet criteria for a substance abuse disorder or addiction

Media Outreach

Medical Research

Speaking & Events

Online Resources

OUR IMPACT

Programs & Projects

We seek to break the stigma and raise awareness around prescribed benzodiazepine injury, provide a voice to the patients who are suffering, and facilitate research and access to competent, evidence-based medical care for those impacted by benzodiazepine induced disability.

Learn More
Spring, 2022 Update
Blog | Our Impact

Spring, 2022 Update

ByBenzodiazepine Information Coalition May 12, 2022May 15, 2022

The Latest from BIC In Memory of Laurie Campbell, RN To start, we ask you to join us in honoring our co-founder, Laurie Campbell, RN. Laurie sadly passed away in March. Her work was instrumental to…

Read More Spring, 2022 UpdateContinue

Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey
Blog | Our Impact

Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet survey

ByBenzodiazepine Information Coalition April 26, 2022May 10, 2022

The benzodiazepine experience survey was designed by Dr. Jane Macoubrie, a professor of communications and member of BIC’s general advisory board, and Dr. Christy Huff, director of Benzodiazepine Information Coalition, who both have lived experience…

Read More Experiences with benzodiazepine use, tapering, and discontinuation: an Internet surveyContinue

Benzodiazepine-focused webinar series, sponsored by the Consortium’s Benzodiazepine Action Work Group
Blog | Our Impact

Benzodiazepine-focused webinar series, sponsored by the Consortium’s Benzodiazepine Action Work Group

ByBenzodiazepine Information Coalition April 20, 2022April 26, 2022

Please join the Colorado Consortium’s Benzodiazepine Action Work Group for our free CME lunch and learn webinar series. Webinar topics include alternative treatments to BZDs, consequences of BZD prescribed use, BZD Induced Neurologic Dysfunction (BIND),…

Read More Benzodiazepine-focused webinar series, sponsored by the Consortium’s Benzodiazepine Action Work GroupContinue

While it might initially seem that these communities and video blogs are simply artifacts of the internet culture, a closer look at the stories told on these forums suggests a different message. The message is that physicians have been unprepared for these withdrawal disorders and are unable to treat or even guide patients through complicated withdrawal from these substances.

JOSEF WITT-DOERRING, M.D.
DARYL SHORTER, M.D. THOMAS KOSTEN, M.D.
SAFE + EASY DONATIONS​

Support Benzodiazepine Awareness and Help Us:

  • Gain recognition of the existence and severity of prescribed benzodiazepine injury
  • Hold and participate in events to educate prescribers and the public
  • Push for policies that protect patients on benzodiazepines, whether they choose to remain on or taper off
  • Protect those presented with benzodiazepines as a treatment option by giving them true informed consent
  • Create more media awareness about this silent epidemic
  • Advocate for more prescriber training in safe prescribing and cessation
  • Fund research and show the need for future research that helps the harmed
Support Us

Contact Us

Inquiries:
bic@benzoinfo.com

We do not offer any support services or guidance. See our resources for services and support.

Mailing Address:
1042 Ft. Union Blvd, PMB 1030
Midvale, Utah 84047

Support Us

We were formed to change the lack of knowledge in the public and the medical system. But we cannot do it alone. We rely solely on donations to operate. We are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

DONATE

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Notices

Benzodiazepine Information Coalition is a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.

EIN: 81-3442343

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© 2022 Benzodiazepine Information Coalition

Scroll to top
  • About Benzodiazepines
    • Benzo Basics
      • Ashton Manual
      • A Brief History Of Benzodiazepines
      • Class Actions and Lawsuits—and Reporting Harm 
      • FDA 2020 Benzodiazepine Boxed Warning
      • Medications and Supplements of Concern
      • Xanax Study Outcomes
    • Prescribing
      • Addiction vs Physical Dependence
      • Genetic Testing
      • Informed Consent
      • Low Dose Benzodiazepines
      • Mechanism of Action
      • Prescribing Statistics
      • Steps to Reduce Benzodiazepine Overprescribing
      • Therapeutic Actions
    • Prescribing Risks
      • Akathisia
      • Fluoroquinolones
      • Functional Brain Changes
      • Interdose Withdrawal
      • Paradoxical Reactions
      • Physical Dependence
      • Risks of Remaining on Benzodiazepines
      • Red Flags
      • Short-Term Risks
      • Side Effects
      • Suicide
      • Tolerance
    • Deprescribing
      • Ashton Manual
      • Tapering Strategies and Solutions
      • Detox, Cold Turkey, Abrupt Cessation
      • Estimates of Withdrawal
      • How To Find Tapering Help
      • Dosages Prevent Safe Withdrawal
      • Why Patients Shouldn’t Go To Detox or Rehab
    • Desprescribing Risks
      • Akathisia
      • Benzodiazepine Withdrawal Syndrome (BWS)
      • Forced Switching or Stopping
      • Functional Brain Changes
      • Kindling
      • Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PWS)
      • Suicide
      • Withdrawal & Post Withdrawal Symptoms
    • Special Populations
      • Benzodiazepines and PTSD
      • Celebrities
      • COVID-19
      • Elderly
      • Women
      • Incarcerated Population
      • Substance Use Disorders
  • About Us
    • Media Kit
    • Volunteer
      • Media Interview List Registration
      • Informed Consent Policy
      • FDA Reporting Program
      • Share Your Story!
  • Our Impact
  • Resources
    • Ashton Manual
    • Benzodiazepine Tapering Strategies and Solutions
    • Financial and Disability Information
    • How To Find Tapering Help
    • Benzodiazepine Cooperative Providers
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • Receive Our Newsletter
  • Donate
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