Cognitive behavior therapy can help reduce need for meds. While I appreciate meds for what they can do - and recognize a real need for some - I fear meds are often a go to solution. I don't believe a person suffering from anxiety can "only" get better with pills.

Med dependency depends on type of med. If he's taking a regularly scheduled dose because he tried to go without, then freaks so takes it, that's one thing. If he's taking them symptomatically, that's different and I believe that ups the odds of med abuse.