Although the illicit use of benzodiazepines has grown, many people still obtain these drugs legally. In fact, nearly 66 million people are prescribed benzos at their office-based doctor visits each year. Patients can take the original dosage prescribed by their doctor and still have problems trying to come off benzos. This dependence leads some to begin using the drugs illicitly.
Others seek out benzos purely for recreational use. A benzo high feels like a sedating or calming sensation for most users. Some people employ polydrug use to amplify the effects of benzos. This occurs when users combine the substance’s use with alcohol or other drugs like opioids.