W-BAD Aims

On this page you can learn more about the W-BAD vision, purpose, mission, goals and objectives.

Ethos

The W-BAD ethos is: ‘By the People for the People’ (see concept), accompanied by the W-BAD guiding principles and the mission, goals, objectives etc. outlined below.

Vision and Purpose

W-BAD’s vision is to create a truly global platform for activism to empower people who have been harmed by taking benzodiazepines exactly as prescribed, allowing their voices to be heard and carry over into the public domain, enabling them to stand together in solidarity for the purpose of achieving global change – that is the concept of W-BAD.

Mission

World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day seeks to raise global awareness around the problem of iatrogenic (medical-induced) benzodiazepine physical dependence that continues to affect an enormous amount of unsuspecting, innocent people worldwide—either directly or indirectly.

Our mission focuses on the problem of ordinary, everyday people being harmed by these drugs as a result of taking them ‘as prescribed’ (exactly as directed by their prescriber)—usually for stress, anxiety, sleep, etc. Despite recommendations and warnings, doctors and other health care providers often prescribe these drugs repeatedly for prolonged periods without giving proper informed consent regarding the risks or appropriate advice on withdrawal protocols (please see “The Ashton Manual” for information on withdrawal protocols).

Global governments have allowed the problem to quietly spiral out of control for decades creating a problem so large that there is no political will to address it. Consequently, millions of regular people are left to suffer needlessly in the dark, without any understanding or access to appropriate care and support. Worse yet, there is a lot of media that stigmatizes these people by misrepresenting the problem with words like “abuse, misuse, addicts,” etc. Unfortunately, this tendency forces the problem further underground leaving others to fall victim at the hands of ill-informed medical providers and ignorant politicians.

World Benzodiazepine Awareness Day seeks to shift accountability back to where it belongs while encouraging the establishment of stricter controls for the prevention of iatrogenic benzodiazepine dependency and the provision of specialized withdrawal facilities for those who so desperately need them. This is an opportunity for victims of failed medical and political establishments to come out and reclaim their lives; to make a unified effort in raising awareness, saying that—“this problem is urgent and it needs addressing now!”

W-BAD does not seek to restrict access to these drugs for those who feel that they may benefit from them, nor does it seek to force anyone to stop or reduce against their own will.

W-BAD is not associated with the illicit use or abuse of benzodiazepines, which is a completely separate issue from iatrogenic physical dependency.

Goals

W-BAD’s goals are as follows:

  1. To gain governmental and medical recognition that ‘medical-induced (iatrogenic) benzodiazepine physical dependence’ is a massive global problem that needs urgent addressing (these are innocent everyday people taking benzodiazepines as prescribed).
  2. To raise worldwide and public awareness about this decades-old problem that has been continuously swept under the carpet by global governments in a blatant display of disregard for public health and welfare.
  3. To encourage the establishment of a mandatory maximum prescribing period of no more than 4 weeks of regular use (based on the UK Committee on Safety of Medicines’ 2-4 week prescribing guidelines), unless deemed absolutely necessary and accompanied by adequate informed consent about the risks of prolonged, repetitive exposure. (Note: Patients already taking these drugs long-term as prescribed due to repeat prescription shouldn’t be forced to stop if they don’t want to—see The Ashton Manual).
  4. To encourage the establishment of ‘specialized’ iatrogenic dependence and withdrawal facilities and/or 24-hour helplines for those who so desperately need them.
  5. To encourage the implementation of the much-needed, fully-funded research (e.g., as discussed by the BMA) to thoroughly investigate the long-term health implications of prescribed benzodiazepines and Z-drugs.
  6. To encourage the provision of proper training for doctors and medical staff and to help them learn more about the serious implications of benzodiazepines.
  7. To provide victims with a sense of purpose and the opportunity to unify, so that they aren’t left alone in the dark—as has been the case for much too long.
  8. To give recognition and a voice to those who haven’t survived and to those who have been abandoned or left alone to suffer.
  9. To commemorate Dr. Heather Ashton for all that she has contributed to the cause over so many decades (July 11th is her birthday).

Please keep W-BAD’s mission and goals in mind while participating in activism and awareness efforts.

Objectives

In achieving the above goals, W-BAD has the following objectives.

  1. Having W-BAD Representatives in every major developed country, connected through the W-BAD Global Hub, who organise local activism events with a view to establishing their own local chapters in respective languages.
  2. Having W-BAD Representatives in every US State, connected through the W-BAD US State Hub, who organise local activism events.
  3. Having the W-BAD US State representatives obtain official W-BAD US State Resolutions and recognition in every US state.

Outcomes Sought

For a list of outcomes sought, please see the “What does W-BAD want” section at the bottom of the What Page.