21 patients completed an in- & out-patient group-based program to achieve withdrawal from long-term benzodiazepine dependence. By 6-month follow-up, 8 subjects had achieved a good outcome. Generally, subjects demonstrated moderate levls of psychiatric morbidity & depression in the prewithdrawal phase. 2 subjects completed suicide some time after withdrawal. The authors conclude that maintenance benzodiazepine prescription, rather than withdrawal, may be the preferred treatment for some subjects.