Benzodiazepines are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world, used mainly as anxiolytics or hypnotics. With their wide array of therapeutic uses and their popularity among physicians and patients, benzodiazepines have raised some concern about problems of dependence and abuse.

Because of the clinical and public health importance of these questions, the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) set up a Task Force to review this matter in 1992. The Task Force report provided the basis for the development of this document, which presents an objective review of the issues regarding benzodiazepines, and a guide for their clinical usage.