Benzodiazepines and -Z- drugs are frequently coprescribed to pain patients. They were developed for legitimate medical needs, but unbridled success and application has led to serious problems, some of which are known. The potential extreme duration of the withdrawal syndrome, however, is virtually unknown by providers and regulators. This course will address the unmet and largely unrecognized medical need of over prescription, dependence, and withdrawal, and discuss actionable change to improve the knowledge, attitudes, preemptions, and practices of stakeholders