[mnm1]

I've seen plenty of doctors who prescribed benzos and not a single one had any idea how to taper off their patients properly. Nor was a single one interested in it. This is a money-making machine for them and they have no interest, regardless of what's best for the patient. On the other hand, I've gone to doctors who wanted to stop these cold-turkey risking seizures and death. Those doctors clearly never heard of the hippocratic oath. I have never seen a doctor willing to work with a patient to taper off properly. Until we get to that point, talking about reducing prescriptions is akin to signing possible death sentences for patients or pushing them to the black market / pill mills. My own withdrawal took a few months and I did it on my own. It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't as horrible as some others' experiences. Basically, the medical establishment says 'fuck you' by putting you on these meds long-term, and another 'fuck you and die,' by not knowing how to taper you off properly or even knowing when it is appropriate. We have a long, long way before solving this problem, and reducing prescriptions by itself is an incredibly stupid and cruel way to go about this. I can see why it's being done this way. Once you become dependent on something like benzos, most doctors and most of society does not think your life is worth living and they try their hardest to make it so.