my problem is that this might be an opening shot in what will turn into a war on benzodiazepines....

and the most vulnerable people/patients will suffer the most, undoubtedly.

other thing...Librium hit the market int he US around 1960 or so. before that, Miltown/Equanil was the "it" non-barbiturate sedative. Librium, in particular, was already known (by psychiatrists, by the drug makers) to be a whole lot like the barbiturates, just a lot safer in OD, and I think fewer drug-drug interactions. true story...before it hit the US market, Librium was widely tested on psych patients, often at massive doses, because...that's how they rolled back then, I guess (?).

the benzodiazepines were not even controlled until I think 84 or so...Schedule IV, except for Rohypnol (not legal). and...thing is, the bad publicity from decades ago -still- affects prescribing, at least where i live. valium was thoroughly demonized, probably in part because it was a top seller for a while, and now...

inexplicably, xanax (not a bad option, but more difficult to taper than valium) is far, far more popular. klonopin is OK, but...it -was- once the last ditch benzodiazepine...then it hit it big...now lots of people are stuck on it.

so, i dunno. maybe im just cynical. i see another round of media coverage that will do more to harm those in need.