In the states part of doctor compensation is based on patient satisfaction surveys and rates of complaints. People are very quick to complain about not getting what they want out of an appointment (which is often pain or anxiety relief) and much slower to complain about the long term consequences of these prescriptions, which happen often, but not to most people who are initially prescribed these drugs.

I've been on klonopin for sleep and prescribed xanax or ativan for acute anxiety at a couple points over the years, and never had any trouble getting off them. I usually stayed at the lowest dose and often skipped doses, and I'm searching my brain for any memories of withdrawal symptoms, and I don't remember ever having any.

I would bet that more patients have my experience with these drugs than have the long term addiction and severe withdrawal, and doctors have often passed people on before the consequences start stacking up.

I still think they should be prescribed extremely sparingly, because even in my experience with them, they didn't really do too much that some running and yoga didn't do, and they come with much bigger risks.