With all due respect at 92 why torture the poor lady, because that is what is happening 2 her now. Benzo withdrawal syndrome is a very real thing and too much 4 most.

See what it did to Jordan Peterson and Australia doesn’t have enough rehabilitation centres

Aurelio Costarello should be proud for speaking to the 730 report. For everyone here who thinks they are better than him consider standing up in front of friends, family and coworkers and telling them you have a drug problem, telling them you are drug dependent and telling them you are in a process of rehabilitation. Patients put a lot of faith in doctors (which is usually appropriate). Prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs. *Have worked in an addiction service. Benzo dependence ruins lives. Breaks up families.

The world's pumped with drugs alcohol and fast food.

"Sometimes it's so ingrained into the patient" - Dr Me: Because you gave it to us. ...

There is a larger/bigger issue here. These are called diseases of despair (look it up). Which is a big issue in rural/regional centers. People turn to alcohol, food and drugs to deal with a situation they cannot get out of. If you give a person a descent job, look after their kids and their health they will avoid such problems. We tell ourselves health is the same everywhere in Australia, but the truth is it isn’t. Someone living in a regional centre does not have the same health opportunities as someone living in the city. And it is thanks to the constant erosion of public health from a Liberal/National Government.

To all people. Before you take a drug prescribed from your gp. Please research it on google. This will save y ou a load of grief

50 years on benzos, I can't even get one tablet. Maybe I'm lucky.

This male Karen is shaming them so much . They weren't for him. Fair. Why act like a drama queen

im 20 years old and was prescribed valium when i was 16. since then ive struggled with benzo addiction and last year my addiction spiked to 7 Xanax a day. when i was 16 i had no idea what valium was. Im not completely blaming the doctors but to prescribe a minor such a powerful and addictive drug seems deplorable.

People taking a benzodiazepine for an extended time are likely to become physically dependent, but I've yet to come across an explanation as to why that's a bad thing if the patient is getting a therapeutic benefit. Dependence is different from addiction, and studies indicate that the vast majority of patients do not escalate their dose. For example "Lack of Relationship Between Long-Term Use of Benzodiazepines and Escalation to High Dosages, Stephen B. Soumerai et al." Yes, it's true that people can have difficulty stopping benzo usage, but the same is true of people on insulin. Of course, the immediate response is that insulin is treating a specific biochemical disorder of the body. Yet where is the evidence that this is not also the case for long term users of benzos? As for the question of whether long term use leads to dementia, that is still debated, as the program mentioned. The fact that a 92 year old person who'd been on benzos for 20 years develops dementia hardly even qualifies as anecdotal evidence. I've come across doctors, including a psychiatrist, who says "Oh, I don't prescribe benzodiazepines". Actually, the psychiatrist said that the entire practice of which he is part does not. I am shocked,. Apart from the inherent prejudgement about the patient's needs that that implies, such doctors seem oblivious of just how serious acute anxiety can be. Anxiety is a strong predictor of suicide. Tell a patient with acute anxiety that they have to go away and do relaxation exercises, have cognitive behavioural therapy, or wait for weeks while an anti-depressant kicks in, and there's a real risk that they will kill themselves. If it's sleeplessness that troubling the patient, the doctor may later hear that they've died in a car crash, perhaps taking other people with them. Perhaps benzos have indeed been prescribed too much, but prescribing too little is also damaging. "Benzodiazepines: it's time to return to the evidence, Edward Silberman et. el." published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, discusses this issue. It's time the medical profession took that advice.

I’ve been on benzodiazepines for 18 years BUT I don’t take them every day only when I have unbelievable anxiety attacks and if the stupid government legalised medical marijuana so many people wouldn’t have this issue. I would and have used hemp cbd over benzodiazepines any day, but unfortunately it costs so much to buy it and a lot of the time I have no choice but to use the script as benzodiazepines only cost me $6.50 compared to $200+ for hemp oil 😣

For those with intractable anxiety who have not responded to SSRIs and are at the point of being suicidal, I’d argue a lifetime of *responsible* benzo use is better than no life at all? Doctors need to educate their patients but people also need to take it upon themselves to learn about the medications they are prescribed. It’s not hard to do your own research.

Wow... Not fair and balanced in any way. How about you include at least a simple statement of the benefits of the medication and impacts of making these medications more inaccessible? RE overdose: how about you note that intentional overdose of benzos is a common suicide method and is the reason behind those deceptive statistics, NOT unintentional overdose which is what you implied. Journalism hasn't been this deceptive since chequebook journalism.

HELL ON EARTH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(Took me 2 years to get rid of them ...and it was A NIGHTMARE !! 2 YEARS !!!!!!!).

Don't stop there ABC now do one on prescribed pain killers

It is not only in Australia, Portugal is one the largest consumers of benzodizepines in OCDE countries.

Take benzos for a couple months or even years. If your lucky you can get off them..IF YOUR LUCKY!!! THE WORST WD EVER N IT CAN LAST YEARS!!!

treat it like MDMA

I have Sleeping problems, not like insomnia, but chronic night terrors, walks and screaming during the night. I have a 1yr son and partner who I'm disrupting with this issue, not only that but i can have terrors 3-4 times within the one night, waking up exhausted the next morning. I went to a sleep clinic and dida sleep test & was found to have a very active sleeping brain (typical in someone with an anxiety disorder, although I suffer no anxiety during the day) and was prescribed clonazepam 0.5mg, take 1 before bed. I've been on it a little over 2 weeks and have been sleeping the best I have in years, although I still wake quite fatigued. Seeing this makes me worry that I'll get a dependancy upon them & will have problems later in life. But something has to stop the terrors.

Why don't they have the non addictive circadian on the P B S scheme for people with insomnia instead of the addictive benzos?

These are handed out like candy in the US. I was prescribed them for over 20 years. Now I'm going off and the withdrawal symptoms are torture. I've given up working and stay home. I can barely walk and every body part is affected in some way. I will have to sell my house next year because i'll be out of money. If I don't recover soon I don't know how I'll support myself. Doctor after doctor prescribed them without hesitation and no explanation of the effects of beveloping tolerance and withdrawaling from them.

Precribed benzos for more than 20 years. Cut off completely within 60 days. Left to fend now nothing else I can do about it right?

i weaned myself off Xanax. However, over 25 yrs of use, which ruined MY LIFE!! MY INTENTION WAS2 DO A RESEARCH, AND SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOUVE DONE HERE.

Why do we have to look at someone I can’t relate too, I want to hear from someone who is from the general population.

oK. So she was on a tranquilizer for 20 years. take her off that and put her on antipsychotics. Pure logic. they always got to be obsessing over something or other. . always.

How can you expect to use a short-term drug to treat a chronic mental issue? That's insane.

Facts. I thought it wasn't a problem there till I met a very close friend from Australia and she overdosed mixing it with opioids. Her friends were with them the whole time then left R.I.P. WINONA I'll love u forever

Not everyone’s the same! Let people make an informed decision about what they feel is best for their mind and body! Don’t just force everyone on anti depressants which are even worse than benzos!

I have been on them 13 years. Although it's. What it is.. I'm able to talk to people. Leave my house. Walk down the street. Look at people in the eyes, etc

Australia is lucky...America has way more than just a benzo problem.

I'm in Tasmania. I was prescribed Valium and took them as directed for 26 years !!! I'm now 14 weeks off them after a dangerous rapid hospital withdrawal, suffering from protracted withdrawal syndrome. I wouldn't wish this torture on my worst enemy. It is 24/7 suffering. Dr's urgently need educating on the DANGERS of benzodiazepine withdrawal. They were never supposed to be take for longer than 4 weeks maximum, so how the hell is this still happening? I have extensive central nervous system damage that developed AFTER I stopped taking them 😢

They should only be used for very short term anxiety like dealing with the loss of a loved one or like a major depressive bout. Also they are necessary for safe withdrawal from alcohol. But other then that they should only be used short term. They can be prescribed long term imo if the patient can control the use to 2-3 days a week maximum. It’s a shame they cause such bad withdrawals because they are in theory a very helpful drug for those dealing with severe anxiety

Yes but how do i get some

@5:39 What an indictment of the medical profession. Why do we go to the GP if not "for the very best outcome"?

I don’t know why, but I tore many ligaments and tendons due to muscle weakness.

Why is doctors not sued

The UK and Australia seem to have such a problem with benzodiazepines. They can be responsibly prescribed and used, even long-term. You have to avoid going overboard on the levels. I don't know if it's doctors not really understanding the possible progression of habituation or what. Don't let your patients become zombies on massive amounts of benzos. Beware of bad affects in the elderly and and those with certain organic brain damage.

I'd rather just put up with my anxiety instead of taking that shit!

6 million is that it?? It’s around that in Scotland alone

Im kindled from oxazepam

The 92 year old is 92. Fark me She was sweet since 72 in benzos ya didn't even know.

They never mention serepax ( oxazepam. - Why ?

People fail to take personal responsibility for anything swear to god

I tore many ligaments and tendons due to benzos induced muscle weakness.

He was on 3 different benzos 3 times daily? Yeh nahhhhhhh another bs story to get GPs to stop prescribing the goods

What about when u have valium methadone clonazepam and xanax every day ?

Ive been prescribed Benzes (Clonazepam)7mg/day for about 9 years now it is by far the best thing that has happened to me. I used to overthink everything until it was to late to choose, I would stay up all night on a work night watching the clock and just getting more and more anxious knowing that id probably be going into work on zero sleep. For anyone who says you can only take it for two weeks I encourage you to explain how this would help solve a life long problem like insomnia or anxiety, as well there are almost zero negative side affects if taken properly the only danger is if you decide to abuse your dose and lie to your doctor then you might end up having serous withdrawals but if you are honest about how much you have been taking the dr isn't going to let you have a seizure they will work with you to taper down and if they won't go to another dr or hospital its extremely simple. I highly recommend it for anxiety/sleep problems or If you'd like to have some fun but don't enjoy drinking or can't drink because of religious or spiritual beliefs.

I've been, mistakenly, given 88 Xanax per month for 6 months. It was supposed to be 10. And I'm not supposed to take more than 2 a week... Dangerous ground! But I'm still okay... Love the wine more...

I am on six valium and two Temazepam

Apparently the Russian medical system helped Jordan Peterson

I love them

I am on Temazepam and Diazepam Temazepam 10mg twice at night Diazepam 5mg twice at night

I love triazolam (Halcion).

What is one to do if they have been using benzos for years? You cannot stop taking benzos-that is a death sentence and there is no cure for addiction. Benzos are entirely safe so long as the patient doesn't combine them or overdose on them.

high on a GG249 rn :)

02:16 50 years on benzos. Means this person would be around 70 years old. Not bad for a drug that harms you so much.

I've been prescribed 6mg of clonazapam for 22 years for anxiety and ptsd and all of a sudden I've been told that my doctors simply won't prescribe it because of other people misusing it, so now I have just had to go to outpatient detox and have been put on 3 x 5mg valium daily just so I don't have seizures, even tye detox centre said I need to be on at least the 3 valium for my anxiety but said because other people have been abusing them I have to just go along with having extreme anxiety for the rest of my lifetime! It's just not fair that I have to go through hell just because of the system!

So why don't we stop prescribing all drugs and just tell people with any type of mental illness just get your feelings and thoughts together and take responsibility for your illnesses and get a job.

❤

Its flipping criminal be on means

valiume feels sooo gooood

The guy at the start of this story is disingenuous. Initially he took them every few days. Why? To avoid addiction. Then somehow he got prescribed 3 benzos multiple times a day for 4 years (which isn't easy or first line) and says "if I knew they were addictive I wouldn't have done it" Reeks of BS. You would have to be living under a rock to be unaware of the fact that valium etc are addictive. Stop demonising benzos because of idiots. Current affairs already ruined the best benzo (xanax). Leave the rest alone. I have taken them irregularly for 12 years and am not addicted. Personal responsibility people.

😂,

It's not addiction, it's physical dependence

Xanax nailed me, it worked so good!!!