Escape from Benzo Oz: A Comedic Drug Withdrawal Romance at Zameen Art House

LINDA LAWSON realizes she’s dependent on sleeping pills. Mostly housebound and bedridden, Linda takes control of her life and health by quitting them only to discover “benzos” (benzodiazepines) are as addictive as heroin and ten times harder to quit, as withdrawals can last for years (and may include hallucinations and psychosis).

Linda’s first visitor from Oz is APHRODITE: a Glinda-like goddess who helps her taper off the medications. Her doctor, the WICKED WITCH, attempts to lure her back into dependence and disability with an addictive pain pill. Defiantly staying off all drugs, Linda starts healing from symptoms thought “incurable.”

Then danger strikes: a dark form of depression derails her progress. Unaware this is a common withdrawal symptom, she’s prescribed an antidepressant which increases the benzo-caused brain damage creating the withdrawal tornado which flies her over the rainbow into the magical realm of Benzo Oz.

Hallucinatory hijinks ensue, as Linda encounters Fairy Munchkins who aid her in her life-threatening withdrawal, a witty Drag Queen Scarecrow and fashionista who helps her recover her brain, and a sexy Canadian Tin Man with whom she has a supernatural romance that heals her broken heart.

As hallucinations fade, Linda believes she’s escaped from Benzo Oz. Will she become one of only two percent who stay off benzos? She found love, magic, and healing in Benzo Oz. Can she survive ordinary reality? Or are there characters unmet, withdrawal battles to fight, trauma to face?

A magical and funny true story of courage, redemption, and recovery.