Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are fast-acting depressant drugs. Medical professionals can prescribe them to treat a multitude of concerns, such as panic disorder, anxiety, insomnia, and epilepsy.
Benzos work by enhancing the effectiveness of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which slows down the central nervous system and causes sedative effects. Due to the relaxed state that is induced by benzodiazepines, they have the potential to be highly addictive. Even brief benzo use can lead a person to suffer from withdrawal symptoms and benzodiazepine use disorder.
At Maple Heights Behavioral Health, we help people who are suffering from addictions to benzos find long-term healing through highly effective, individualized programming.
Signs & Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction
The signs and symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction can vary from one person to another. In some cases, a person who is using benzos may develop an addiction to the drug without realizing it. Because of this scary reality, it’s important to be cognizant of the potential warning signs of benzodiazepine addiction.
Common signs and symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction include:
- Withdrawal from loved ones
- Lying about whereabouts, activities, or benzo use
- Visiting several doctors in an attempt to get multiple prescriptions for benzos
- Attempting to steal another person’s pills for their own use
- Dramatic mood swings
- Uncharacteristic lack of inhibition
- Using benzos in combination with other drugs or alcohol
- Dedicating significant amounts of time to thinking about or acquiring prescription drugs that contain benzos
- Difficulty focusing
- Slurred speech
- Blurred vision
- Lightheadedness
- Persistent confusion
- Muscle weakness
It’s crucial for any person who is exhibiting these warning signs to seek help at a qualified benzo addiction treatment center. The potential dangers of benzo addiction are too catastrophic to ignore. If someone you love is abusing benzodiazepines, helping them find the care they need can ultimately save their life.
Benzodiazepine Addiction Statistics
In 2018, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reported the following statistics about benzo addiction:
- An estimated 30.5 million U.S. adults used benzodiazepines.
- Of the American adults who misused benzos in the previous 12 months, 46.3% cited relaxation and relieving tension as their primary motivation for taking benzos.
- Nearly 2% of adults who used benzodiazepines developed a benzo addiction.
- 20% of adults who misused benzos obtained them through a prescription from a medical professional. The remaining 80% received benzos from relatives or friends.
Potential Effects of Benzodiazepine Addiction
If a benzo addiction is left untreated, it can severely impact nearly all aspects of a person’s life. There are numerous negative outcomes that can result from benzodiazepine addiction, including:
- Difficulty finding or maintaining a job
- Poor academic performance
- Strained relationships with loved ones
- Financial problems
- Legal troubles such as arrest and incarceration
- Physical injury due to impaired coordination
- Onset or worsening of other mental health concerns
- Suicidal ideation
- Overdose
The potential long-term effects of benzo addiction are tragic, but they can be avoided with professional help. At our benzo addiction treatment place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, we strive to help our patients get to the root of their struggles with benzo addiction so that they can build a solid foundation for recovery.
Don’t delay finding the care you need. The longer you wait to ask for help, the greater your risk becomes for suffering from the negative impacts of benzo addiction.
The Benefits of Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
If you’re struggling with benzodiazepine use disorder, you may face a variety of withdrawal symptoms depending on the amount and duration of benzo use you’ve engaged in. Symptoms can affect people mentally and physically. For this reason, it’s important for someone who wishes to stop using benzos to seek professional detoxification services.
Common benzo withdrawal symptoms include:
- Inability to sleep
- Anxiety
- Seizures
- Coma
- Hallucinations
- Rapid heart rate
- Hand tremors
- Muscle pain and cramps
- Nausea and vomiting
- Suicidal ideation
At Maple Heights Behavioral Health, patients can detox safely and comfortably with the help of our expert team. We offer a warm, welcoming atmosphere where you can receive the care you deserve as you take a brave first step toward better health.
Your battle with a benzo addiction does not have to define your life. With our guidance, you can learn the necessary coping skills to help you achieve recovery, prevent future relapse, and pursue a rewarding future.
Types of Therapies in Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
Before starting treatment at our hospital, you’ll participate in a thorough initial assessment to help our team better understand the challenges you’re facing. We’ll review your past substance use, your medical history, your current health, and other relevant details to determine which treatment modalities may be the most valuable for you.
Based on your specific needs, your care can include:
- Basic medical care
- Medication management services
- Family therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Daily living skills, medication management, recreational therapy, process groups, and goal-setting groups
Our team will strive to help you achieve the best outcome possible, so we will only include therapies and services that offer you the greatest benefit. When you seek help from our team of professionals, you’ll receive focused treatment that can set you up to sustain recovery for a lifetime.
Why Choose Our Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Center
Our team understands that no two people have the same experience with benzo addiction, and we provide treatment that can address your unique needs. At our hospital, you won’t be treated as a statistic. Our caring professionals are committed to delivering services with the utmost dignity and respect for each patient.
We hope to help you find a path to a brighter tomorrow by listening to your concerns, addressing your needs, and encouraging you to utilize your strengths during recovery. Our supportive environment is an ideal place for you to focus on personal growth so that you can become the healthiest, happiest version of yourself.
This content was written on behalf of and reviewed by the clinical staff at Maple Heights Behavioral Health.