Benzodiazepine Addiction: Misuse, Symptoms & Side Effects

Benzodiazepine misuse can lead to benzo addiction. This overview covers what benzos are, the signs and symptoms of addiction, and what treatment can involve.

With anxiety disorders continuing to be diagnosed across the United States, the need for a medication to calm people down is growing. Some people who suffer from anxiety are prescribed benzodiazepines to calm their nerves so they can think clearly and not suffer from regular anxiety. However, benzodiazepines can become addictive if not taken properly, and in some cases, misuse can be more dangerous than the anxiety disorder itself.

What Is Benzodiazepine Addiction?

Benzodiazepine addiction occurs when people misuse prescription medications likeXanaxorValium. This could include buying the drug illegally, taking it in larger amounts, and taking it for an extended amount of time. An addiction likely won’t occur if a patient follows a doctor’s instructions, but some people become accustomed to the drug’s calm and high.

United States legislators began to notice this and developed laws to help control benzo use. Most significantly, the 1970 Controlled Substances Act categorized benzodiazepines asSchedule IV drugs, which means the drugs have a high potential for abuse, addiction, and have limited medical uses.

However, benzos aren’t only an American issue. They’ve become an issue across the globe. In 2015, Xanax was called the world’s most popular pill, with tens of millions of prescriptions being dispensed globally.

Causes of Addiction & Risks

Benzos are habit-forming sedatives, meaning that gaining an addiction to them can be possible if not taken properly. People who take the drug excessively may begin to feel high and experience unsafe relaxation. Their tolerance to the drug’s effects can build as they attempt to emulate that initial high.

The drug’s easy availability is also a major contributing factor. Between 2014-2016, 66 million patients left doctor’s offices with benzodiazepine prescriptions or 27 in every 100 visits, according to Psychology Today.

In 2018, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention measured overdoses involving benzos wereeight times larger than 1999 estimates. Therisk of death increasesif a person uses these drugs alongside other mind-altering substances — especiallyopioids. The accessibility to benzos is an even greater concern to individuals who already struggle with substance use disorder.

Signs of Misuse, Symptoms & Side Effects

Identifying the signs of someone struggling with benzodiazepine addiction can be confusing. However, there are a variety of signs that can reveal that someone is misusing benzos. It’s crucial to take notice of the signs before the symptoms become deadly.

Treating Benzodiazepines Addiction

The best way to treat a benzo addiction is by seeking help through an accredited facility. Doing this allows medical professionals and clinical therapists to determine the severity of the addiction and find anyunderlying co-occurring disordersthat have to be treated. The Recovery Village hasvarious facilitiesthroughout the country that can help with this process.

A reputable facility will first evaluate a person to learn about their addiction and find out key information, such as the amount of time the drug has been used and the doses that have been consumed. Once a treatment team determines the severity of the addiction, the detox process begins.

Detox can include uncomfortable symptoms depending on which benzo is being withdrawn, but a medical professional can prescribemedication to ease the discomfort. After the withdrawal symptoms subside, the client learns the tools needed to manage their addictions during inpatient, outpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive inpatient, or intensive outpatient programs.

Once completed, aftercare begins and the skills learned in treatment can be used outside of the facility. Aftercare can include regularly scheduled therapy sessions or reside in sober-living.

What Are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are psychoactive medications that physiciansprescribe to people struggling with anxietyand insomnia. There are more than a dozen different kinds of benzos that each have their own purpose. Some benzos can treat multiple conditions, but the most popular use of this drug is to treat heightened anxiety.

Benzos aren’t only for psychological symptoms. They can also be used to help those who are struggling physically. Certain benzos work to treat convulsions for people who have cerebral palsy or help relax a patient preparing to go into surgery.

When taken, the drugslows down a person’s brain activity, increasing the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and slowing bodily nerve impulses. This results in drowsiness, uncoordinated movements, slowed reaction times, andmore. Though the mechanisms of action are almost the same across all benzos, there are a few key differences between the variations of the drug. For example, each medication has a unique dosage, half-life, abuse potential, and absorption time.

There are two primary types of benzodiazepines: long-acting and short-acting.

Each class of benzodiazepines is prescribed for different needs and is classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration based on their potential for addiction. The long-acting kinds, such as Valium and Librium, tend to stay in the body for many hours. Short-acting benzodiazepines like Ativan and Xanax do not stay in the body for very long — sometimes just a few hours.

Like other drugs that are illegally used, benzos go byvarious nicknames. Some of the most commonly used benzodiazepine street names include nerve pills, tranks, downers, V’s (Valium), and Z bars (Xanax).

If you or a loved one struggle with an addiction to benzodiazepines,call our representativesfor more information on our facilities and programs. Start your journey to an addiction-free life today.