I've been taking clonaz.... for 5 years. Just 1mg. at night. I'm not sure it's been a bad thing for me. I was drug tested by my doctor in order to get my last prescription as it's becoming more difficult to get without hassles. It didn't even show up on the drug test. I think drugs are like alcohol as some can take a drink and then leave it and some cannot. I have never increased the 1 mg. though I am, in a way, addicted as I cannot sleep without it. My goal is to cut to .5 mg. as I have in the past and then work on my sleep routine which, most importantly, includes getting up when you wake up and staying up then taking a good nap mid day. This works well for me. My only issue with taking clonazopam is that it makes me rather unable to get up once I first awaken and causes me to sleep late which disturbs the next night of sleep. Rather a bad cycle. What works best for me is to have this med for sleep as a backup in case of travel etc. when it's more difficult to sleep and when you are less likely to sleep late. Use it in emergencies only and not as a daily med.