Make BIC’s Next Year Even More Impactful!
Your Support and Tax-Deductible Gifts Are Vital! Although we dream of a future where BIC can close its doors because the medical field has wholeheartedly addressed benzodiazepine harm, we haven’t reached that point yet. Every single day, we are flooded with emails from patients who have fallen victim to dangerous benzodiazepine prescribing and deprescribing practices. Countless individuals silently endure the burden of benzodiazepine injuries, lacking the necessary medical recognition, research, and assistance they desperately need.
Join us in amplifying BIC’s efforts by making a donation towards sustained benzodiazepine awareness and education. Your contribution will directly support our mission.
If you are unable to donate, you can still make a significant difference by starting a fundraiser that raises money for BIC. Platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow their users to raise money for nonprofit organizations in a few simple steps. Click the donate button for more information.
BIC relies on the generosity of our donors and volunteers, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of them for making our work possible!
Moments from This Year Worth Celebrating:
Benzodiazepine Deprescribing Guidance for the FDA!
The FDA has awarded grant funding to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) to develop clinical practice guidelines for deprescribing benzodiazepines. Our Co-Founder, JC, along with Medical Director, Christy Huff, M.D., and Medical Advisory Board Member, Nicole Lamberson, PA, have been selected for the patient advisory committee. With meetings in progress and the review of existing literature complete, it will take a few years before the guidelines are published. Including the patient voice in these guidelines has the potential to raise awareness in the medical field and enable better support for patients affected by benzodiazepines.
BIND Paper Makes Waves!
We are delighted to announce that the highly anticipated third paper derived from our comprehensive 2018 benzodiazepine experience survey, Long-term consequences of benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction (BIND): A survey, was released on June 29th. The impact was immediate and far-reaching, as the findings garnered significant attention in the mainstream media and beyond. Even Elon Musk expressed his astonishment with an exclamation point in a tweet, underscoring the far-reaching impact of our groundbreaking research. This publicity raises awareness about the potentially devastating consequences of prescribed benzodiazepines.
Find Benzo-Cooperative Providers!
Since our inception, we have offered a vital resource—the only actively maintained Benzodiazepine Tapering Cooperative Providers list in existence. This valuable list aims to connect patients affected by benzodiazepines with medical providers who have experience in supporting tapering efforts. The list includes providers who have requested to be listed, as well as those who have been nominated by their patients. We have recently updated the list for accuracy, ensuring that you have access to the most reliable and helpful information.
Free Benzodiazepine Continuing Medical Education (CME)!
All medical providers require CME to maintain their licensure. One way to reach them with the latest benzodiazepine information is by offering CME at no cost. In concert with the Benzodiazepine Action Work Group of the Colorado Consortium (where several of BIC’s Board Members are also co-founding members), we are offering three free CME courses in hopes of educating medical providers about the potential risks and harms of prescribed benzodiazepines and their withdrawal. Even more free CME courses are in the works and coming soon!
Medical Conferences and more!
Our Medical Director, Dr. Christy Huff, delivered two talks, one as a keynote speaker, at medical conferences, shedding light on harm. Additionally, she presented a poster on benzodiazepine-induced neurological disorder (BIND) at the esteemed ASAM annual conference. At a Medicating Normal screening venue in Virginia Beach, Dr. Michael Bohan, a valued member of our Medical Advisory Board, manned our information booth, providing his experience and insights to both medical professionals and the public. By personally delivering our message to thousands of medical providers, we hope to generate interest and create a ripple effect, reducing patient harm.
