# US Benzodiazepine Prescriptions Declined by Over 26% in Last Decade

> A Rutgers Health study reveals a significant drop in benzodiazepine prescriptions and dosage amounts between 2013 and 2024, suggesting more cautious clinical practices.

- Published: 2026-09-30T12:00:02.000Z
- Category: health
- Source: [Medical Xpress](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-benzodiazepine-prescriptions-sharply-decade.html)
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Prescriptions for benzodiazepines, including Xanax, Valium, Ativan, and Klonopin, dropped by 26.7% in the United States between 2013 and 2024. Researchers from Rutgers Health analyzed over 1.1 billion prescriptions to identify this trend, which they suggest may reflect more selective and cautious prescribing habits among healthcare providers.

### Key numbers

- **26.7%** — decline in benzodiazepine prescriptions
- **18.3%** — decrease in average dose per prescription

**Why it matters:** Benzodiazepines are frequently linked to overdose deaths, particularly when combined with other substances like opioids. The 26.7% decline in prescriptions and 18.3% reduction in average dosage suggest a shift toward more cautious clinical management of these medications, which are used to treat anxiety, insomnia, and seizure disorders.

## Shifts in Prescribing Patterns

The study, published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, noted that the decline in prescriptions occurred across all patient demographics, with the most significant reduction observed among young adults aged 18 to 29. Additionally, the average dose per prescription decreased by 18.3% over the study period. While primary care physicians and psychiatrists issued fewer prescriptions, the study found an increase in prescriptions written by advanced practice providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. These findings follow FDA warnings issued in 2016 and 2020 regarding the risks of benzodiazepine misuse and their combined use with opioids.

### Timeline

- **2013** — The study period for analyzed prescription data began.
- **2016** — The FDA issued warnings regarding the risks of prescribing benzodiazepines with opioids.
- **2020** — The FDA issued further warnings concerning medication misuse.
- **2024** — The study period for analyzed prescription data concluded.

**Key points**

- Researchers analyzed more than 1.1 billion benzodiazepine prescriptions filled between 2013 and 2024.
- The total number of dispensed prescriptions for these sedatives fell by 26.7%.
- The average dose per prescription decreased by 18.3% during the study period.
- The largest decline in prescriptions was observed among young adults aged 18 to 29.
- The FDA issued specific warnings regarding benzodiazepine use and risks of misuse in 2016 and 2020.