This clinical data is presented to emphasize the clinical seriousness of benzodiazepine dependence, its relationship to other addictive diseases, the complicated and protracted nature of its withdrawal syndrome, the various clinical reasons for prescribing benzodiazepines, and the need for physicians in all medical specialties to be alert to the possibility of chemical dependence in their patient population. Those of us prescribing benzodiazepines should have a clinical knowledge of addictive diseases and not complicate the disease process by prescribing benzodiazepines when they are clearly contraindicated.