Blog

1. They prescribe benzodiazepines long-term without informed consent. A long-term (2-4 weeks or more) benzodiazepine prescription should be accompanied with informed consent. Prescribed benzodiazepines carry short and long term risks. Studies past a few months are lacking,…

There is an ongoing failure in the field of medicine of patients and prescribers to properly diagnose or even recognize problems that arise secondary to chronic benzodiazepine prescription. How does this come to be? Typically,…

This article explores five reasons why drug and alcohol detox or rehab facilities are inappropriate for withdrawing compliant, prescribed benzodiazepine patients. 1. Inappropriate Model It is important to note that physical dependence and addiction are…

Christine Anne Narloch passed away on June 16, 2017 at the age of 48 after a long struggle with benzodiazepine withdrawal syndrome that ended in suicide. Her husband, Mike, describes her as “an intelligent woman…

“Masha’s” father’s life was destroyed because he followed his prescription for Ativan.  She contacted the Benzodiazepine Information
Coalition to share his suicide note, hoping to raise awareness about the dangers of prescribed benzodiazepines.  She states that “My father is dead.  He hanged himself in 2015.  He was taking Ativan for anxiety, as was Chris Cornell (lead singer of Soundgarden).  In light of Cornell’s suicide, also by hanging, I feel a duty to share my father’s suicide note.  If this letter speaks to you, please share it.”    

Arthur Shapiro and colleagues published a randomized, double-blinded study in the 1983 Journal of Psychiatric Research entitled Diazepam: how much better than placebo? assessing the effectiveness of diazepam versus placebo and weekly psychotherapy in the treatment of…

Benzodiazepines come in many different dosages and strengths. One might assume there are enough dosages available to safely taper off of the drug but, for many patients, this is not true. Breaking a pill in…