Benzodiazepines (often referred to as benzos) are often prescribed to treat anxiety, seizures, and sleep disorders. Some of the most common benzos include Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, and Valium. In this episode, the Author of “Dopamine Nation” & “Drug Dealer, MD,” Psychiatrist & Stanford professor Dr. Anna Lembke, joins us to discuss the sleep-related drug benzos and why it's called a "Hidden Epidemic." Dr. Lembke notes that between 1990 and 2012, the rate of benzo use increased, leading to widespread addiction and overdose rates.Dr. Lembke discusses her journey as a therapist specializing in addictions and explains the risks associated with long-term benzodiazepine use and the process of helping patients get off these hugely addictive drugs.  Thankfully, the latest neuroscience research has allowed her and others to understand better what's happening in the brain as we become addicted and what happens when we embark on the process of getting off of them.Benzodiazepines cause many physical changes in your body and brain. These can be unpleasant and frightening, but they can also be eased off gradually & responsibly with the support of trained professionals. If you or someone you know is struggling with long-term benzodiazepines, you will want to listen to this episode!GUEST BIO: Anna Lembke, MD is professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. A clinician scholar, she is the author of more than a hundred peer-reviewed publications, has testified before the United States House of Representatives and Senate, has served as an expert witness in federal and state opioid litigation, and is an internationally recognized leader in addiction medicine treatment and education.In 2016, she published Drug Dealer, MD – How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It’s So Hard to Stop (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016), highlighted in the New York Times as one of the top five books to read to understand the opioid epidemic (Zuger, 2018).  Dr. Lembke appeared in the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, an unvarnished look at the impact of social media on our lives.  Her latest book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence (Dutton/Penguin Random House, August 2021), was an instant New York Times bestseller and explores how to moderate compulsive overconsumption in a dopamine-overloaded world.SHOW NOTES: ?Dr. Anna Lembke's journey as a therapist specializing in addictions?Dr. Lembke believed that healthcare providers need to be more educated about addiction treatment?Why she is calling the addition of benzodiazepines a "hidden epidemic."?What happens when benzos and opioids are combined?Withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepines  in some individuals?What are the risks associated with benzodiazepine abuse, aside from cognitive impairment?Benzodiazepines for treating insomnia?How do we explore tapering safely and responsibly??Helpful resource: Ashton Manual and Benzodiazepines Alliance?What is Dr. Lembke’s sleep-centric night and morning routineAnd more!​ Website: annalembke.comDISCLAIMER:The information contained on this podcast, our website, newsletter, and the resources available for download are not intended as, and shall not be understood or construed as, medical or health advice. The information contained on these platforms is not a substitute for medical or health advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.