Benzodiazepines differ from many of the other abused substances in that there are legitimate medical indications for their use. Any prescription for benzodiazepines must be preceded by a careful risk-benefit analysis that considers the specifics of an individual's particular life situation, personality style, and psychiatric diagnosis. The risk of benzodiazepine abuse by chemically dependent individuals and the problems of cognitive and/or psychomotor impairment and dependence for all individuals have to be balanced against the therapeutic benefits of these drugs for patients who experience disabling anxiety disorders or anxiety that accompanies chronic medical illness. Problems of dependence can be minimized by utilizing a variety of pharmacologic and psychotherapeutic strategies to ameliorate withdrawal symptoms that might accompany the discontinuation of long-term benzodiazepine treatment.