The Rehab Podcast shifts to benzodiazepine tapering coverage
Mark Leeds’ podcast will focus on BIND, protracted withdrawal and deprescribing, with clinical guidance stressing supervised, individualized tapers.
By Priya Raghavan · Science Reporter
2 min read
Mark Leeds’ The Rehab Podcast has shifted its editorial focus to benzodiazepine tapering, protracted withdrawal, deprescribing and BIND, an emerging term for persistent symptoms after benzodiazepine exposure. The August 11 announcement matters for patients and clinicians because stopping these medicines can require careful, individualized medical planning.
The program, published on the Mental Health News Radio Network, will seek guests including clinicians, researchers, pharmacists, advocates and people with personal experience of withdrawal or tapering. Leeds, a Fort Lauderdale osteopathic physician, has oriented his practice largely toward benzodiazepine and psychiatric-medication tapering, according to the announcement.
What will The Rehab Podcast cover on benzodiazepine tapering?
Planned episodes will examine protracted withdrawal, BIND, gradual dose reduction and the practical barriers patients can encounter when a taper requires doses not readily available in standard formulations. The podcast also plans to discuss compounding pharmacies and references including the Ashton Manual and Maudsley Deprescribing Guidelines.
Its most recent related episode, published July 24, featured Barbara Connolly, senior administrator of the Benzo Warrior Community. Connolly is not a physician; her doctorate is in political science, and the discussion presented community and podcast perspectives on tapering resources and patient support.
The show has framed physical dependence from a prescribed benzodiazepine as distinct from addiction. That distinction is also reflected in an American Society of Addiction Medicine educational program, which says most people taking benzodiazepines long term have physical dependence rather than addiction.
What is BIND?
BIND, short for benzodiazepine-induced neurological dysfunction, is a term proposed in a 2023 PLOS ONE survey study. It describes functionally limiting physical and psychological neurological symptoms that may persist after benzodiazepine exposure, as well as related effects on people’s lives. The podcast’s use of the term reflects an area of clinical and patient discussion rather than a diagnosis established as universal consensus.
Leeds said the program will emphasize slow reductions and prescribers’ familiarity with tapering. His Florida benzodiazepine tapering practice is separate from the podcast, whose archive is hosted at therehab.com.
What do clinical guidelines say about stopping benzodiazepines?
The strongest established safety point is that benzodiazepines should not be stopped abruptly after more than a month of use. A 2025 joint guideline led by ASAM and developed with 10 medical and professional societies recommends gradual tapering under clinical supervision when a clinician and patient determine that the risks of continued use outweigh the benefits.
The guideline is evidence-informed and consensus-based, not a fixed schedule. It calls for patient-centered plans that can be monitored and adjusted to a person’s medical history, needs and response to dose changes. Medication changes should be made with a qualified clinician, since abrupt discontinuation can be dangerous.