Yes and no. Yes, going cold turkey, suddenly stopping a medication without first consulting with a doctor can be very unpleasant at the least, and sometimes even deadly at the worst. But benzodiazepines are not opiates. It may be a distinction without a difference however in terms of their potential for addiction and withdrawal symptom for some.
The risk for stopping benzodiazepines cold turkey is seizures. Similar to DT’s. Unless you are on a low dose, stopping cold Turkey is always dangerous.
It’s very much a distinction with a difference.
Opiate withdrawal makes you miserable. Pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, anxiety. But it won’t kill you.
Benzodiazepine withdraws can kill you. Tachycardia, hypertension, agitation, intractable seizures.