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Benzo Abuse Treatment

What are Benzos?

Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are highly addictive prescription depressants prescribed to treat anxiety, panic attacks, seizures, and insomnia. Names of prescription benzos you may have heard before typically include: Xanax, Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, and Ambien. 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

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?

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.

Benzo abuse withdrawal symptoms may include:

  • Inability to sleep
  • Irritability
  • Increased tension and anxiety
  • Panic attacks
  • Hand tremors
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Hallucinations
  • Muscle pain
  • Cravings

What Happens after Medical 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.

Reach Out

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. We can be reached at 888-534-9140. Because We Care.

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