Date: Tue Nov 7, 2000 3:56 pm

Subject: Credential Info.

Hi xxxxx,

I am happy to share with you my professional resume. However, what about the

people here who daily recommend tapering advice, what are THEIR credentials?

Lets be fair here.

I have worked nearly 20 years in the Medical field. About 17 of those years

in Dermatology as Secretary for 2 years, then in 1985 I became a Medical

Assistant. For those of you who may not know, a Medical Assistant is one who

is basically a nurse, but has a bit less training in some areas, and is paid

less money. In most Medical offices, the staff aren't nurses, but Medical

Assistants. For the past 3 years, I have worked for Dr. Robert MacFarlane. He

is a Addiction Specialist AND a General Practice Doctor. 4 days a week, he

works a half-day at a Rehab, where he is the Attending Physician, and that

includes devising tapering/detox schedules for all the patients. He has been

in practice for 20 years now. I have come to respect and embrace his views,

as when I came to him, I met many people who had high praise and great

results working under his guidelines. In addition to working in the office, I

attend support meetings, and weekly, I visit a Rehab to chat with anyone who

may be in benzo withdrawal. I have had the opportunity to see, first hand,

what works and well as what doesn't work. I am truly tired of the flak about

not doing slow tapers. I AM in a position to have seen that in many slow

tapers, people give up, as they can't sustain the level of pain in

withdrawal. I say a indivual approach is needed for benzo patients, to

determine the best course of action. For those of you in withdrawal, do what

you feel is right, but I believe, very strongly, that everyone should find a

Doctor who understands benzo withdrawal and work with them, in tapering. I

realize this is not a easy task,(finding a good Doctor) but I know many

people who approach a Family Doctor and ask their help in supervising a

taper. My friend Sheila was one of these people. These Doctors DO exist, and

word of mouth seems to be the best referral, in my opinion.(By the way, I may

have the opportunity to go back East next week and meet Sheila, which I hope

happens!)

So......I feel I am quite qualified to state my views. However, it has been

my experience that in withdrawal we will search for ANYTHING to make us feel

better. For me, music helped ALOT. My favorites were Kenny Loggins and James

Taylor, when I was really feeling bad, it was Yanni. Funny, I could gauge how

I was feeling by the music I played. I would start a Rock tape when I was

feeling better.

To all of you in withdrawal, try to remember.....it is temporary, not

terminal. It seems like it will never end, but it DOES!

Sincerely,

Denise