# Benzodiazepine dependence concerns in Europe > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/benzodiazepine-dependence-concerns-in-europe > Updated: 2026-07-29T04:50:38.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. In early July, Lithuanian pharmacists issued a warning that the growing use of benzodiazepine sleep aids could lead to addiction, highlighting the need for caution among prescribers and patients. Later in the month, French health authorities released a detailed assessment of benzodiazepine dependence among older adults. They reported unusually high prescription rates for people aged 65 and over, with about 13 % receiving at least one potentially inappropriate prescription annually and half of nursing‑home residents on these drugs. The French report linked long‑acting benzodiazepines and prolonged use to increased risks of falls, fractures, and hospitalisation, and advised limiting treatment to three months and avoiding long‑acting agents in the elderly. Both snapshots illustrate a widening European focus on the risks of benzodiazepine misuse and the push for tighter prescribing controls. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-29: France highlights benzodiazepine dependence and risky alcohol withdrawal in the elderly France warns that abrupt stopping of alcohol or benzodiazepines can cause severe withdrawal, and that elderly patients are over‑prescribed benzodiazepines, raising fall and fracture risks. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/france-highlights-benzodiazepine-dependence-and-risky-alcohol-withdrawal-in-the-elderly ### 2026-07-10: Lithuanian pharmacists warn of addiction risk from benzodiazepine sleep aids Lithuanian health professionals warn that long‑term use of prescribed benzodiazepine sedatives can cause tolerance, dependence and heightened safety risks, especially when combined with alcohol. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lithuanian-pharmacists-warn-of-addiction-risk-from-benzodiazepine-sleep-aids --- Cite as: Benzodiazepine dependence concerns in Europe. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/benzodiazepine-dependence-concerns-in-europe