Brief report: a retrospective chart review of benzodiazepine prescription patterns, discontinuation, and return-to-use over a decade in a community outpatient substance use treatment program

In patients with SUDs, benzodiazepine discontinuation is uncommon and frequently followed by return to use. Brief tapers show little benefit. Our data support that successful BZD tapering may require prolonged, structured tapering within integrated mental-health and substance use care to minimize return to use.