Why Does Drug Dependence Occur?

With prescription drug use, there are some different terms used to classify certain situations. Substance misuse refers to a situation when a prescription drug is used in a way other than what’s intended or prescribed. One example is continuing to use the drug after a doctor advises to discontinue its use. Addiction is a brain disease, triggered by repeated exposure to a substance impacting the brain’s pathways and chemicals. There is also drug dependence. Drug dependence is a primarily physical scenario. Psychological symptoms are also possible with dependence. Someone can be addicted to the drug dependence experience, but they don’t have to be. Drug dependence can perpetuate the cycle of prescription drug misuse because people want to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that can cause dependence, and Halcion falls within that drug class. Benzodiazepines alter the functionality of GABA in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter that has a naturally calming effect. When someone has a deficiency of GABA, they may have neural overactivity. This can lead to anxiety, insomnia and similar conditions. The use of a benzodiazepine like Halcion can increase the effects of GABA and reduce the symptoms of overactivity. When the brain is constantly exposed to an artificial drug, it may start to work differently. For example, the brain can become so used to Halcion that it doesn’t make enough of its own GABA.

Halcion Withdrawal

When someone has a drug dependence and they try to stop using suddenly, they will go through withdrawal. With Halcion and other benzos, the risk of dependence and addiction are lower if you following a prescription, but it’s still possible. Often when people are prescribed drugs that can cause a physical tolerance, their doctor will put them on a tapering down schedule when they stop using it. That slow taper down can reduce the discomfort of withdrawal.

For people who misuse a prescription drug, especially for extended periods of time, withdrawal symptoms can be more severe and can last longer. Withdrawal symptoms reflect the body and brain trying to stabilize following the use of the drug and get back to a sense of homeostasis. Benzodiazepine withdrawal from drugs like Halcion can be severe, even more so than something like opioid withdrawal. Halcion withdrawal symptoms can include:

  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Depersonalization
  • Hypersensitivity to stimuli
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Muscle aches and pains
  • Headache
  • Tremors
  • Shakiness
  • In severe cases psychosis and seizures are possible

When elderly patients are dependent on Halcion or benzodiazepines, the symptoms can be particularly concerning. Benzodiazepine dependence in patients can cause cognitive impairment and protracted withdrawal. There is even a condition called pseudo-dementia, which is a drug-induced condition stemming from benzodiazepines.

The primary risk factor for benzodiazepine dependence is use exceeding four weeks. With Halcion, it’s recommended that patients only take the medicine for a maximum of ten days. Other dependence risk factors include using high doses and using powerful, short-acting benzos, which Halcion is. Halcion dependence and withdrawal is similar in many ways to alcohol, including the risk of seizures.

Halcion Detox?

Because of the potential severity of Halcion withdrawal, it’s often recommended dependent patients participate in a supervised detox. This is especially important for those who have been using Halcion for a long time. A medical detox for a benzodiazepine like Halcion can include a variety of medical interventions and alternative therapies. The goal is to increase the comfort level of the patient while keeping them safe. A medical Halcion detox increases the chances of successfully ridding the body of drugs so that a person can go on to addiction treatment.

If you’re struggling with prescription drug dependence or misuse, we’re here to help. The Recovery Village team is available, regardless of where you’re at personally. Maybe you just want more information but you’re not ready for treatment, or you’d like to help a loved one. Whatever your situation, please contact us; we can help.

Visit the following websites to learn about The Recovery Village’s network of drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities. Call today for admissions. Each center is ready to help people learn how to cope with their addiction and uncover the root causes for their substance use disorder.

  • Orlando Recovery Center: A premier rehabilitation facility in Orlando, Florida that helps individuals recover from addiction and substance use disorders. The center also offers the opportunity to treat co-occurring disorders.
  • The Recovery Village Columbus: Located in Ohio, this facility provides inpatient, outpatient and aftercare treatment for people looking to begin detox. The center provides individualized plans to help patients through recovery while addressing their unique co-occurring disorders or any setbacks that may happen during recovery.
  • The Recovery Village Palmer Lake: In Colorado, this facility offers inpatient, outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment for individuals looking to kick-start their journey to recovery.
  • The Recovery Village Ridgefield: Located right in southern Washington, this facility provides patients with outpatient and aftercare programs. Just 20 minutes outside of Portland, this facility assists individuals who are ready to begin treatment.
  • The Recovery Village: In Umatilla, Florida, this is a rehabilitation facility that provides resources for individuals seeking drug and alcohol treatment. There are inpatient, outpatient, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment programs available for those suffering from Ambien addiction.
  • IAFF Center of Excellence: Specializes in assisting firefighters who struggle with behavioral health problems and addiction. Members can enter the recovery process sooner so they can return back to work as quickly as possible. Inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs are all available at this facility, where patients can address their Ambien addiction in a safe, supportive environment.
  • Denver Mental Health & Counseling: Denver Mental Health and Counseling by The Recovery Village is a physician-led outpatient center specializing in evidence-based addiction and mental health treatments, offering services such as TMS, IOP, and personalized care for both ongoing and new patients, dedicated to fostering long-term recovery and overall well-being.
  • The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health: The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health is a premier physician-led treatment center in South Florida, offering a comprehensive spectrum of services from medical detox to outpatient programs for alcohol, drug, and co-occurring mental health conditions, with a commitment to rejuvenating lives, families, and communities, and facilitating same-day admissions.
  • The Recovery Village Atlanta: Located in Roswell just outside downtown Atlanta, is a 62-bed physician-led treatment facility offering a comprehensive range of services, from medical detox to outpatient care, specializing in alcohol, drug, and co-occurring mental health conditions, dedicated to transforming lives, families, and communities throughout Georgia.
  • The Recovery Village Kansas City: The Recovery Village Kansas City, an 80-bed facility in Raytown just 10 miles from downtown, offers a comprehensive range of evidence-based treatments for addiction and mental health conditions, overseen by physician leaders, and is dedicated to revitalizing lives, families, and communities throughout the Midwest.
  • The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper Health: The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper, situated just 20 minutes from Philadelphia, is a leading rehab facility in South Jersey providing comprehensive, evidence-based addiction and mental health treatments, ranging from medical detox to teletherapy, with a dedicated team committed to guiding adults on their path to lifelong recovery.

Medical Disclaimer

The Recovery Village aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.