Benzo Abuse

Benzodiazepines are a class of prescription anxiolytic medication known for their calming effects on the brain and central nervous system. While these medications offer significant relief for anxiety, panic, and sleep disorders, its potential for dependence and addiction cannot be ignored. Recognizing the signs of benzo abuse and addiction is the first crucial step towards healing and recovery.

Royal Life Centers aims to shed light on the journey of overcoming benzo dependency, offering hope and practical advice for those grappling with this challenging condition. Through understanding the nuances of treatment options available, from medical detoxification to therapy and holistic approaches, individuals can embark on a path toward reclaiming their health and well-being.

What Are Benzos?

Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are classified as central nervous system (CNS) depressants, meaning they slow down brain activity and produce a calming effect. Benzodiazepines were first introduced in the 1960s and quickly gained popularity due to their effectiveness in treating anxiety, insomnia, and seizures. However, over time it became clear that these drugs also carried a high risk for abuse and dependence. This has led to stricter regulations on prescribing benzodiazepines and increased awareness about their potential dangers.

Types of Benzos

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that are commonly prescribed for the treatment of physical and mental health disorders. The different types of benzodiazepine medication vary by their duration of action and potency, but they all work by enhancing the effects of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain.

Some commonly prescribed benzodiazepines include:

Alprazolam (Xanax): Commonly prescribed for anxiety and panic disorders, Alprazolam is known for its rapid onset of action.
Clonazepam (Klonopin): Prescribed for seizure control as well as panic disorder management, Clonazepam offers both quick relief and long-lasting effects.
Lorazepam (Ativan): Used to treat anxiety disorders, Lorazepam has a relatively fast-acting effect and can also be used as a sedative before surgery.

Other benzos have a longer half life, including:

Chlordiazepoxide (Librium): Primarily used to manage anxiety disorders and acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms, Chlordiazepoxide was the first benzodiazepine to be synthesized.
Diazepam (Valium): Effective in treating anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures, Diazepam is one of the oldest and most versatile benzodiazepines.

While each benzodiazepine may have slightly different properties in terms of onset of action and potency, they all work by enhancing the effects of GABA in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that inhibits the activity of neurons, helping to reduce anxiety and induce relaxation. Benzodiazepines increase the binding affinity of GABA receptors, making them more sensitive to the effects of this neurotransmitter.

Why Are Benzos Addictive?

Benzodiazepines work by enhancing the effects of a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain, which helps to calm down overactive nerve cells. Although benzodiazepines can be very effective in relieving symptoms, they also come with a risk of dependence and addiction. This is because they act on the reward centers in the brain, causing feelings of relaxation and pleasure. As a result, individuals may begin to use them more frequently or at higher doses in order to experience these pleasurable effects.

Over time, regular use of benzodiazepines can lead to physical dependence, meaning that the body has adapted to functioning with the drug present and experiences uncomfortable symptoms when it is not. This can make it very difficult to stop using benzodiazepines without experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

To avoid developing dependence on benzodiazepines, it is important to only use them as prescribed by a doctor and to follow the recommended dosage guidelines. It is also important to be aware of potential abuse or misuse of these medications. If you find yourself needing more frequent doses or higher doses than prescribed, it may be a sign that your body has developed a tolerance and that you should speak with your doctor about alternative treatment options.

Why Is Benzo Abuse So Common?

Benzo abuse is especially dangerous because these drugs are so commonly prescribed by doctors — in the tens of millions. They are easy to get, much more so than most street drugs. Benzos are typically also affordable through insurance. This makes them an easy candidate for abuse.

Benzo abuse is both quick and dangerous. Because the substances cause a powerful surge of dopamine, it unleashes an immense wave of pleasure. It is also believed that the chemicals released by benzos build up in the body, altering structures in the brain so that it is more susceptible to addiction. All of this combines to create an incredibly addictive substance that is painfully difficult to give up. Addiction to benzos can form in 6 months or sooner in some cases.

What Does Benzo Abuse Look Like?

Benzo abuse may cause serious side effects such as amnesia, hostility, irritability, vivid or disturbing dreams and it can even slow down the central nervous system. Over 30% of opioid-involved overdoses also involve benzodiazepines, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), making this drug extremely fatal if combined or overdosed. In fact, researchers found that benzodiazepines are associated with the greatest number of early deaths among all the prescription medications tested. Combining benzos with other drugs or alcohol is common and chronic misuse can lead to physical and mental dependence, which will inevitably lead to increased side effects and painful withdrawal.

Short-term effects of benzo abuse may include:

Tolerance
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Panic attacks
Impaired coordination and confusion
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Memory and cognitive problems
Mood swings

Long-term effects of benzo abuse may include:

Depression
Anxiety
Suicidal thoughts
Irritability
Cognitive dysfunction
Loss of interest in activities and relationships
Insomnia
Increased risk of accidents and injuries
Impaired immune system functioning
Liver damage
Kidney failure
Dependence and addiction

Benzo Abuse Withdrawal Symptoms

Benzo abuse withdrawal symptoms may include:

Insomnia (Inability to sleep)
Irritability
Rebound anxiety
Increased tension
Panic attacks
Hand tremors
Difficulty concentrating
Nausea
Headache
Hallucinations
Muscle pain
Cravings
Seizures
Coma
Death

Benzo withdrawal is extremely dangerous due to the risk of life-threatening seizures. If you or a loved one is struggling with benzo abuse, it’s important to seek professional help.

Should I Seek Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction?

Beating any addiction is never easy. In fact, it is one of the hardest things you can do. To overcome benzo addiction safely, proper and professional treatment is critical. Without the medical supervision and assistance provided by a certified and accredited detox facility, serious complications may result from benzo withdrawal. Because We Care, Royal Life Centers is committed to providing the safest, most effective medication-assisted benzo detox, followed by carefully structured medical regiments, intensive group and individual therapy programs, and extensive aftercare options.

Do you think you or a loved one may be struggling with benzo abuse or addiction? Think about the following and determine if you need to give us a call today:

Signs of a benzo problem may include:

“Doctor shopping” for multiple prescriptions
Snorting or injecting pills to increase effects
Using benzos in conjunction with other drugs, like opioids or when drinking
Engaging in other high-risk behaviors
Loss of interest in activities that you once enjoyed
Continuing to use despite negative side effects
Withdrawal symptoms and/or cravings if you don’t use regularly

If you recognize any of these behaviors in yourself or someone that you love, there may be a benzo abuse problem that will require medical help to safely detox from the drugs. Let’s learn a little more about medical assisted detox, to help you understand what to expect from treatment.

Why Is Medical Assisted Detox Necessary for Benzo Addiction?

Like with any drug or alcohol addiction, withdrawal from benzos is physically and emotionally exhausting and uncomfortable. Withdrawal symptoms vary in severity, depending on how much you’ve used, your overall health, your age and various other factors. There is also varying effects depending on what medication you have been prescribed. Some benzos, such as Valium, present risks for seizures. This makes medical detox unquestionably vital.

Our experience has shown that typically, a “rebound” stage of anxiety and insomnia will take place 1-4 days following abstinence, with more serious withdrawal symptoms lasting 10-14 days. Our goal at Royal Life Centers is to make detoxification from benzos as smooth and safe as possible, which is why our guests are monitored through and after detox and our medical staff is on site 24/7 to ensure safety and comfort. While the process will still be very difficult, we can make sure that you or your loved ones will detox safely and with a professional at their side.

What Happens After A Benzo Detox?

Following medical detox at Royal Life Centers, guests will begin a full on, comprehensive, collaborative approach to substance abuse treatment designed to support physical, mental and spiritual wellness. We promote a lasting, sober lifestyle. The goal of our program is much more than just sobriety from benzos and other substances. We make sure that you have ongoing success in life once you leave our care for the long term. Our professional counselors help you find the proper coping mechanisms to make healthy and positive choices in the future.

Our addiction specialists, from our therapists and case managers to our facility staff, are dedicated to providing the best in professionalism, care and support. Our holistic, evidence-based approach to psychotherapy incorporates individual and group sessions and activity, movement, and adventure therapies into one program that treats mind, body, and spirit. We use art, music and even animals to help our guests find connections that teach them to express themselves and communicate when it may be difficult to do so. Our work is not just about helping to remove addiction, it is about emotional healing to assist in becoming a more well-rounded and positive individual.

Guests may begin their recovery journey in our residential inpatient program and continue with us through PHP, IOP, OP, and sober living at our graduate housing residences. At Royal Life Centers, the guest is always our top priority. We consistently do all that we can to effect lasting change, that you or your loved one might continue to lead healthy, sober lives long after leaving our care.

Freedom from benzo abuse or other prescription or illicit drugs is achievable and realistic. While it may seem impossible while you are alone, with the right support and guidance, you can live the life you always wanted. Our alumni regularly go on to have fulfilling careers and families once they have left our care. Let our team of loving professionals help you to achieve your dreams of freedom from addiction. Let us help you start a new life, a new journey, without the pain that substance abuse may cause.

Benzo Rehab in Arizona

If you or a loved one has a dependency or addiction to benzos, or any substance use disorder, please reach out to us about your detox and treatment options. Royal Life Centers admissions staff is available 24/7 to answer your questions and address your concerns. Because We Care.

Benzo Abuse

What Are Benzos?

Types of Benzos

Why Are Benzos Addictive?

Why Is Benzo Abuse So Common?

What Does Benzo Abuse Look Like?

Benzo Abuse Withdrawal Symptoms

Should I Seek Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction?

Why Is Medical Assisted Detox Necessary for Benzo Addiction?

What Happens After A Benzo Detox?

Benzo Rehab in Arizona

TRUSTED & ACCREDITED ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTERS

Because We Care.

ROYAL LIFE CENTERS AT CHAPTER 5

Treatment Information

Professional Resources

Need Help?

Call Us

Email Us

Find Us

Find Royal on Social Media

ROYAL LIFE CENTERS AT CHAPTER 5