BENZO

 I haven't delved properly into this in a while, so as always, do your own reading to verify or correct me, but as far as I'm aware, it's not just the issue of addiction that's problematic, but in addition, neurotoxicity that can result in many issues, including drastically increased probability of dementia in later life:

[https://karger.com/ned/article/47/3-4/181/226590/Benzodiazepine-Use-and-Risk-of-Dementia-in-the](https://karger.com/ned/article/47/3-4/181/226590/Benzodiazepine-Use-and-Risk-of-Dementia-in-the)


GABA: The primary inhibitory neurotransmitter (for which there are 3 receptor types, not the two commonly thought of re: GABA a and GABA b, but GABA c too)
Glutamate: The primary excitatory neurotransmitter (for which there are 20 receptor types)
[http://web.mit.edu/zakf/www/drugchart/drugchart11.html](http://web.mit.edu/zakf/www/drugchart/drugchart11.html)


Drugs that mimic or increase GABA:
Alcohol, barbiturates (phenobarbital), benzodiazepines (Valium), GHB, baclofen, neurosteroids (alphaxolone), muscimol
Drugs that decrease or block:
Flumazenil, bicuculline, bemegride, Ro 15-4513, phaclofen


Drugs that mimic or increase Glutamate:
D-cycloserine, domoic acid (shellfish)

Drugs that decrease or block:
PCP, ketamine, Namenda (for Alzheimer's), dextromethorphan (Robitussin), dizocilpine


I believe there's an issue with the GABA/Glutamate balance, whereby too many GABA agonists don't just result in desensitisation of GABA receptors, and thereby prolonged anxiety during withdrawal and post acute withdrawal syndrome, but additionally results in an over sensitisation of glutamate receptors whereby too much glutamate is released, and too much glutamate is neurotoxic (demonstrated horribly well re: the chemical weapon Sarin Gas: "Excessive synaptic acetylcholine levels cause a massive release of glutamate which in turn, sustains and maintains status epilepticus23,24 resulting in hypoxic-ischemic neuronal cell death via N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-mediated excitotoxicity.23, 25–28"
[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172147/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6172147/))


I think this is referred to as the Kindling effect, where repeated withdrawals (and hangovers are GABAergic withdrawals as much as benzos) result in neurotoxic damage that can cause permanent structural damages that resemble epilepsy (hence GABAergic withdrawals sometimes causing seizures).
Here's a paper going over it re: Alcohol (which is also GABAergic):
[https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/47/5/501/99762](https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/47/5/501/99762)


GABAergic substances are odd as apart from alcohol, most of them are physically non-toxic and seem safe with short term, very moderate use. However, the dangers come from abrupt withdrawals (GABAergics are the most dangerous psychotropic type to withdraw from if stopping serious, 24/7 chronic use; you can seizure and die), and long term, heavy use, so far, according to the evidence, seem quite severe.


Just to add on, alcohol is far worse than benzos, as in addition to the GABAergic issues, it's incredibly physically toxic, literally poisonous and a Group 1 Carcinogen (that's the same group as asbestos). [https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health](https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health) No amount of alcohol is safe for your health. Unfortunately there's a multibillion £ industry that doesn't want you to know this, and who even actively attempt to snuff out recreational competition: "The Beer Distributors PAC, an affiliate that represents 16 beer-distribution companies in Massachusetts, gave $25,000 to the Campaign for a Safe and Healthy Massachusetts, tying it for third place among the largest contributors to the anti-pot organization."
[https://theintercept.com/2016/09/14/beer-pot-ballot/](https://theintercept.com/2016/09/14/beer-pot-ballot/)


Benzos are still bad though. From my perspective, their only valid use is to manage extremely acute anxiety for very short periods. I'd advise staying away from regular use of any GABAergic drugs.