On April 30, 2025, the Smithfield Virginia Rotary hosted its 2nd Annual Mental Health Awareness Expo, and Benzodiazepine Information Coalition (BIC) was proud to once again be part of this event. Dr. Michael Bohan, a member of BIC’s Medical Advisory Board, attended and connected with individuals interested in our mission and information.
Throughout the evening, Dr. Bohan engaged with attendees who had found the event online or heard about it through community networks. Conversations reflected the growing interest in safer deprescribing practices and the need for better education in the medical field around long-term effects of prescribed benzodiazepines.
One especially encouraging connection came with Nurse Practitioner Laletho Shabazz, who is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Nursing. Her thesis focuses on how to teach prescribers the deprescribing process, which is an area of urgent need. Laletho has already begun putting this into practice and expressed interest in further collaboration with BIC.
Event coordinator Joe Johnson continues to be a driving force behind the Expo’s success. He and Dr. Bohan took a moment to reflect on how the event has expanded in just one year, and plans are already in place for next year’s gathering on May 6, 2026.
Also in attendance was Elizabeth Brooks, who expressed interest in learning more about benzodiazepine injury and invited Dr. Bohan to speak at her Rotary Club in Suffolk.
It was a meaningful and productive evening, full of thoughtful conversations and shared goals. We’re grateful to the Smithfield Rotary for hosting this important event, and to all who stopped by the BIC table to connect and learn.
Where can I get current information on how to safely get off benzodiazopines? No current doctors have been able to help.
I am very interested to hear more about how to withdraw from benzodiazapam safely. Having had a nervous breakdown at the beginning of last year I was put on 5mg of diazapam and not given any guidance or follow ups about its use. Furthermore there is no current support in NewZealand to help people to titrate down from it.
There is help for substance abuse but nothing for people put on it for post operative care or for mental health issues. It’s a highly addictive and dangerous drug. Please keep me informed about this drug.
Thanking you
Jocelyn Broughton
Thank goodness some things are moving along to help raise awareness and increase the training of Physicians in how to de- prescribe benzos safely. It’s about time. Thank you
My current doctor is not comfortable with deprescribing me from a Benzo. I would like to at some point in time. Is there documentation on how to do this and what to prescribe? Thank you. Donna
You do great work but more needs to be done. Who is educating those in our med schools? I met two recent PCP doctors who had no idea about what it took to get someone off benzos. South Carolina med school. Older well educated doctors don’t know and specialists will treat you with standard meds that backfire and make side effects of withdrawal worse as do most PCPs. I would have been in deep trouble if I had not found you and Benzo Buddies. Dr. Janet Leigh is the real savior for me who is in BIND – 5 years and still suffering a lot. A book needs to be published of what meds can cause real problems during withdrawal. I first got a list from you. ALL DOCTORS NEED THIS LIST AND NEED TO KNOW THAT FLU, COVID SHOTS AND MAYBE OTHERS CAN CAUSE REAL PAIN. People should not take benzo drugs unless nothing else works.
Love these events! But, how are you going to disseminate information to those who have been physically dependent on benzos and want desperately to get off of them. No, haven’t been able to find a PCP or psychiatrist to help!
Where is recap.?
Unable to attend.
Grateful for all of you! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting the word out, Love to you all.
It’s so wonderful how BIC continues to keep the benzodiazepine issue in the spotlight. If these expos can help just one person understand the nightmare of benzo withdrawal, educate in order to minimize stymptoms and give hope that there is a recovery at the end, it’s a job well done.
Opening up the channels of communication between medical professionals in order to adequately supervise the tapering process and how to relate to their patients who are understandably fighting to come to terms with this new temporary life they have will hopefully lead to an awakening to where the pharma industry will take a bigger role in better informing their prescribers with mandatory classes in order to properly dispense this dangerous drug.
Thank you for all you do BIC.
Pleased to know that the Expo was a success. Hat’s off to those who made it happen!