The prevalence of benzodiazepine consumption in Japan is one of the highest 
worldwide. Etizolam is the most abused drug of the benzodiazepine class. The 
treatment of benzodiazepine dependence is difficult. We report a case of 
successful dosage reduction in a 24-year-old female patient with etizolam 
dependence. She was diagnosed with etizolam dependence at the age of 22 years 
old. We proposed a benzodiazepine dependence treatment that involved replacing 
etizolam with a long-acting benzodiazepine class drug in conjunction with a 
long-term weaning plan. However, the patient refused the treatment and insisted 
that reducing the number of tablets would increase her anxiety. After providing 
a detailed explanation and receiving consent from the patient, a treatment 
regimen consisting of fine granules of etizolam mixed with lactose granules was 
begun with the aim of reducing the percentage of etizolam at a rate of 0.3 
mg/week. The treatment of etizolam dependence in this patient was successful. 
This treatment strategy may be an effective option for patients who are 
difficult to treat with conventional methods, or who have anxiety regarding the 
reduction of the amount of the drug itself.