Anyone can develop a 'tolerance' to benzodiazepines or other drugs. Tolerance means that you must take more of the drug to feel the same effects you used to have with smaller amounts or lower doses. Dependence' on benzodiazepines means that it takes up a lot of your thoughts, emotions and activities. You spend a lot of time thinking about using benzodiazepines, looking for them, using them and getting over the effects of using them. You also find it difficult to stop using or control how much you use.
Dependence can lead to a variety of health, money, legal, work and relationship problems.
Not all people who ever use benzodiazepines become dependent. Suddenly stopping using benzodiazepines can be dangerous. You should get help and withdraw gradually if you have been using benzos regularly or using high doses of them. It is unusual to overdose on benzodiazepines alone but if you use benzos with other drugs such as alcohol, heroin or methadone it is very easy to overdose and die. Using benzos when you are pregnant can affect both the mother and the unborn child.