Has your life been touched by drug addiction or dependence?

Unfortunately, almost all of us know someone — or know of someone — who has struggled with dependence on or addiction to drugs or alcohol.

In episode 31 of the Read. Talk. Grow. podcast we talk about dependance on benzodiazepines. You can listen to the episode, “Escaping the grip of benzodiazepines” wherever you get your podcasts.

Episode summary

The opioid epidemic is now a well-known phenomenon, drawing justified attention in medicine, politics and pop culture. But how much do you know about benzodiazepines? In this episode, author Melissa Bond tells us how she unintentionally ended up becoming deeply dependent on benzos, a journey chronicled in her memoir “Blood Orange Night.” Mayo Clinic pharmacist Dr. Michael Campbell joins us to provide expert insight on this complex issue.

In this episode, Dr. Millstine and her guests discussed:

• An onslaught of symptoms. After getting hit with severe, unrelenting insomnia, Melissa was prescribed benzodiazepines — and a lot of them — to help her sleep. She didn’t realize that the side effects of these drugs were responsible for her rapidly deteriorating quality of life.
• Struggling to find understanding and support. It was hard to find a healthcare professional who could help her get off the drugs while avoiding the dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Even her friends didn’t understand, suggesting she go to rehab and “sweat it out” — a potentially life-threatening method for people taking benzodiazepines.
• Hope for recovery. Today, Melissa is free of benzodiazepines. She offers hope of healing for those on similar journeys.

More resources:

For more on drug dependence, listen to this Read. Talk. Grow. episode:

• We need everyone’s help to end the opioid crisis with author Beth Macy and Dr. Holly Geyer

Questions for discussion:

• Has your life been touched by addiction to or dependence on drugs? Do you resonate with the above points or the episode?
• What books or other media have helped you better understand the experience of people with drug dependence or their loved ones? What did you learn?

Share your thoughts, questions and opinions below!