Can I stop taking benzodiazepines on my own?

The FDA advises against it. For people who have taken a benzodiazepine for weeks or months, abrupt discontinuation or tapering too fast can cause serious withdrawal reactions, including seizures, which can be life-threatening. The agency recommends working with a health care professional on a gradual taper instead.

Why do benzodiazepines matter in overdose deaths?

Combining benzodiazepines with opioids is the biggest concern. The FDA requires boxed warnings on both classes because the combination can slow or stop breathing. In Franklin County, fentanyl was involved in 344 of the 453 accidental intoxication deaths in 2024, and benzos are a recurring factor in polysubstance toxicology.

Where can I get help in Columbus?

The ADAMH Board of Franklin County funds a network of more than 30 not-for-profit providers across the county with sliding-fee-scale services, and Netcare Access operates 24-hour crisis services in Columbus. The state's 988 line is also free. Our helpline at (800) 653-9376 can walk you through options.

What does a supervised benzo taper involve?

A clinician builds a gradual, planned dose reduction and monitors withdrawal severity, adjusting as needed. The FDA notes prescribers may pause a taper or return to a previous dose if symptoms flare, then resume more slowly. The first step is a medical assessment of what you take and for how long.

Who do I call in a crisis tonight?

If someone is unresponsive, seizing, or having trouble breathing, call 911 immediately. For a mental health or substance use crisis, call or text 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact Netcare Access, which operates 24-hour crisis services in Columbus. All calls are free and confidential.

Benzodiazepine Detox and Treatment in Columbus, OH

If you take a benzodiazepine — alprazolam, lorazepam, clonazepam — and want off it, the safe path is a planned, medically supervised taper. The FDA warned as far back as 2020 that stopping these drugs abruptly can cause seizures and other life-threatening withdrawal reactions. The stakes are sharper in Franklin County, where the coroner counted 453 accidental intoxication deaths in 2024 and fentanyl appeared in 344 of them. Here is what supervised care involves and how Columbus's safety-net system fits in.

Why benzodiazepine withdrawal needs medical supervision

Benzodiazepines act on the same calming receptors as alcohol, and the nervous system adapts to them over weeks and months of use. Drop the dose too quickly and the FDA's updated boxed warning describes what rebounds: seizures, anxiety, panic attacks, tremors, muscle pain and stiffness, insomnia, and memory problems — sometimes lasting months.

A supervised taper manages that rebound deliberately. A clinician sets a gradual step-down schedule, tracks how you respond, and adjusts. The FDA's guidance explicitly anticipates pausing a taper or going back to a previous dose if symptoms spike, then resuming more slowly. Difficulty during a taper is a signal to revise the plan with your provider, not proof you should quit tapering — and definitely not a reason to jump straight off the drug.

What the Franklin County data shows

The Franklin County Coroner's five-year overdose report, covering cases with a precipitating incident inside Franklin County, records:

453 accidental deaths from acute intoxication in 2024, down from 688 in 2023 and 775 in 2021
Fentanyl involved in 344 of the 2024 deaths, cocaine in 265, alcohol in 89
Fentanyl plus cocaine as the deadliest combination, at 205 deaths in 2024

What the numbers do establish is the environment: a drug supply saturated with fentanyl, and polysubstance deaths as the dominant pattern. If your benzodiazepine did not come from a pharmacy, treat every pill as unknown.

Where to start in Columbus

Columbus, with an estimated 938,000 residents as of mid-2025, has a publicly funded behavioral health system with real capacity:

The ADAMH Board of Franklin County funds a network of more than 30 not-for-profit providers offering alcohol, drug, and mental health services on a sliding fee scale, with a Standard Benefits Plan that covers most eligible Franklin County residents in full
Netcare Access operates 24-hour crisis services in Columbus
Columbus Public Health's Alcohol & Drug Services Division is part of that provider network

Practical first steps:

Bring your medication list to your prescriber or primary care doctor and ask for a taper plan — that conversation can start this week
Use ADAMH's Find Help directory or SAMHSA's FindTreatment.gov locator to find a program that handles sedative withdrawal management
Call our confidential helpline at (800) 653-9376 if you would rather talk it through with a person first

Ohio Medicaid covers substance use disorder treatment, and ADAMH network providers charge on ability to pay — money is a barrier the system is built to absorb, not a reason to wait.

How to start today

Call or text (800) 653-9376 to talk through treatment options with a person — no pressure, no commitment. Or use the form below and we will reach out:

Calling is free; the referral service is paid for by treatment providers.

Emergency and crisis lines

If someone is unresponsive, seizing, or struggling to breathe, call 911 first. For a mental health or substance use crisis that is not a medical emergency, call or text 988, the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact Netcare Access in Columbus. Do not ride out a suspected benzo withdrawal seizure at home.

This page is general health information, not medical advice. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by any facility named above.