benzodiazepine drugs

They are the primary drugs to stop seizures, especially status epilepticus (an intractable, life-threatening prolonged seizure). They are also the primary drugs to sedate patients for procedures, and thus allow sedation without the risks of general anesthesia. They are the most effective drugs at aborting panic attacks, they are treatments for anticholinergic poisoning, and they are lifesaving for alcohol and barbiturate withdrawal (and far more people die of alcohol withdrawal than from any complication of benzodiazepines).

So no, we cannot do without them. No way, no how.

However, generally I agree with you in that they can be quite risky when used on a regular basis, like to treat chronic anxiety symptoms, and they often have paradoxically "agitating" effects in the elderly.

I wish we could do without them. Seen too many ODs on that stuff, too many blackouts, too many young women molested and abused who never really know what happened, too many things to tell about.

But I guess that's just it with any drug: when used properly, it's great. When abused, it's dangerous. If we got rid of anything and everything that can be abused, we couldn't eat.

Indeed true. This argues for better research into the most effective and safest uses of this class of drugs, research into alternatives that are safer, and better regulation.

It decidedly does not argue for getting rid of them altogether -- Alan's statement that they have relatively insignificant utility is completely wrong.

Oh, I wouldn't want to see them pulled altogether despite all the ugliness I've seen through their abuse. I'm only working from my extremely limited experience, but I have known a few people who really do benefit from these drugs.

As always, I'm a big fan of more research. And my guess is that this research is essentially continuous. But you'd know more about that.