This video discussion was previously released (June 30th, 2020) on my daughter Mikhaila's YouTube channel and podcast (https://www.youtube.com/c/MikhailaPetersonvideos). Since it is World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day (July 11th), and in light of the seriousness of the public health related information it contains, I have decided to also release it here. Join the discussion of this video at thinkspot: https://www.thinkspot.com/online_content/37u6ly/detail?category=event Related links: Paradoxical reactions to benzodiazepines: https://www.acep.org/how-we-serve/sections/toxicology/news/july-2017/paradoxical-reactions-to-benzodiazepines-who-gets-them-and-why/ Akathisia: https://w-bad.org/akathisia/ Catatonia and benzodiazepine withdrawal: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8835707/ Suicidality and benzodiazepines: https://www.psychiatrist.com/PCC/article/Pages/2017/v19n02/16r02037.aspx https://www.healio.com/news/psychiatry/20181101/benzodiazepine-users-with-ptsd-more-likely-to-attempt-complete-suicide Dependence vs. addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSdYltpePU8&list=PLGiM-snSAzyv6vnRV5NRsnJ_aQmapK0FI&index=7&t=0s Benzodiazepine use and dementia risk: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6325366/ Benzodiazepine prescription rates: https://www.psychiatry.org/newsroom/news-releases/study-finds-increasing-use-and-misuse-of-benzodiazepines Examples of severe benzodiazepine withdrawal from prescribed benzodiazepines: https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/healthandlife/benzo-nightmare-us-doctor-on-a-personal-mission-to-highlight-the-dangers-of-the-drug-995756.html http://www.benzo-case-japan.com/my-story-english.php https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2047018/ http://www.zakstein.org/for-meghan-testimony-in-support-of-ma-house-act-4062/ Celebrity deaths involving benzodiazepines: Anna Nicole Smith, Whitney Houston - https://www.thestar.com/life/health_wellness/2012/03/02/how_antianxiety_meds_are_killing_celebrities.html Heath Ledger - https://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/02/06/heath.ledger/ Michael Jackson - http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/15634083/the-drugs-found-in-michael-jacksons-body-after-he-died Philip Seymour Hoffman - https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobsullum/2014/03/03/philip-seymour-hoffmans-mixed-drug-intoxication-is-typical-of-so-called-heroin-overdoses/#6c1ac87c14aa Amy Winehouse - https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/270466/Amy-Winehouse-had-taken-sedative Tom Petty - https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cchr-another-celebrity-lost-to-benzodiazepines-and-opioids-mix-300588100.html Benzodiazepines and early death: https://www.bmj.com/content/348/bmj.g1996 Overdose risk of benzodiazepines with opioids: https://www.upmc.com/media/news/opioid-benzo-overdose https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/opioids/benzodiazepines-opioids Warnings: https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/02/antianxiety-drugs-fuel-the-next-deadly-drug-crisis-in-us.html The Ashton Protocol: https://benzo.org.uk/manual/ Collecting duct carcinoma: https://www.currentoncology.com/index.php/oncology/article/view/1230/1229 Sodium metabisulfite allergy symptoms: https://foodallergycanada.ca/food-allergy-basics/food-allergies-101/what-are-food-allergies/sulphites/ Other links: https://medicatingnormal.com/benzodiazepines-anti-anxiety-meds/ https://www.theinnercompass.org/learn-unlearn/intervention/anti-anxiety-benzodiazepines https://www.benzobuddies.org