Benzodiazepines, commonly known as “benzos,” are a widely prescribed class of medications valued for their sedative and calming effects. These prescription medications can provide vital relief for several conditions. However, the same properties that make benzodiazepines effective also carry a significant risk of misuse and addiction. The line between therapeutic use and abuse can be thin, leaving many individuals vulnerable to unintended consequences. For this reason, it’s important to understand the risks of benzodiazepines, the warning signs of abuse, the symptoms of dependency, and the different treatment options for benzo addiction.
What Are Benzos?
Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are highly addictive prescription sedatives or depressants, They are typically prescribed to treat anxiety, panic attacks, seizures, and insomnia. The most commonly prescribed and used benzos typically include:
Benzo abuse is especially dangerous because these drugs are so widely prescribed by doctors — in the tens of millions. They are easy to acquire, much more so than most street drugs. Benzos are also used so commonly, that they are typically affordable through insurance.
What Does Benzo Abuse Look Like?
Benzo abuse may cause serious side effects such as amnesia, hostility, irritability, vivid or disturbing dreams and 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). This highlights the life-threatening consequences of misusing benzodiazepines. Research also shows that benzos are associated with the greatest number of early deaths among all prescription medications.
Combining benzos with other drugs or alcohol is common and what makes them especially dangerous, 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 use 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 use may include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Suicidal thoughts
- Irritability
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Dementia
- Kidney and liver damage
- Breathing issues
If you or a loved one is struggling with benzodiazepine abuse, it is important to seek professional help immediately.
What Causes Benzo Addiction?
Benzo addiction is both quick and dangerous. Because the drugs cause a powerful surge of dopamine, it unleashes an immense wave of pleasure. It is also believed that the chemicals released by benzos accumulate in the body, altering structures in the brain so that it is more susceptible. All of this combines to form an incredibly addictive substance that is tragically difficult to quit. Dependence on benzos can form in as little as 6 months or sooner.
Should I Seek Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Do you think you or a loved one may be struggling with benzo abuse or addiction? Understanding the signs of benzo addiction can help determine if you need to get professional help today.
Signs of a benzo addiction can include:
- “Doctor shopping” for multiple prescriptions
- Snorting or injecting pills to increase effects
- Using benzos in conjunction with other drugs, like opioids
- 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 problem that will require medical help to safely detox from the chemicals. Let’s learn a little more about medical assisted detox, to help you understand what to expect from treatment.
Benzo Withdrawal
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.
Like with any addictive substance, withdrawal from benzos is physically and emotionally taxing and painful. Withdrawal symptoms vary in severity, depending on how much you’ve used, your overall health, your age, and various other factors. 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.
Benzo withdrawal symptoms may include:
- Inability to sleep
- Irritability
- Increased tension and anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Hand tremors
- Difficulty concentrating
- Nausea
- Headache
- Hallucinations
- Muscle pain
- Cravings
Benzo detox requires medical supervision and should never be attempted alone. The withdrawal process can be dangerous, with potential for seizures and other serious complications. It is important to seek help from a professional detox center, such as Royal Life Detox, where you will receive personalized care and support throughout the entire process.
During benzo detox, medication may be prescribed to manage symptoms and ease the discomfort of withdrawal. This may include tapering off the drug or using a substitute medication to gradually wean the body off of benzos. In addition, therapy and counseling are essential in addressing underlying issues that may have led to benzodiazepine addiction.
Benzo Detox In Arizona
At Royal Life Detox, we aim to make detoxification from benzos as smooth and safe as possible. During detox, 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 difficult, we can make sure that you or your loved ones will safely detox with a team of addiction treatment professionals at their side.
Throughout treatment, our experienced medical staff will monitor each guest’s progress closely and adjust treatment plans as needed. We understand the difficulty of benzo detox and are dedicated to providing a safe and comfortable environment for our guests. Our Arizona detox facility offers a range of amenities to help make the detox process as smooth and manageable as possible.
What Happens After Medical Detox?
Following medical detox at Royal Life Detox, guests will begin a full-on, comprehensive, collaborative approach to substance abuse treatment. Our holistic treatment services support physical, mental, and spiritual wellness. In doing so, our treatment programs promote a lasting, sober lifestyle. The goal of our program is so much more than just sobriety from benzos and other substances. We aim to make sure that you have lasting success in life once you leave our care, for the long term, and 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 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 help them 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 Detox, the guest is always our top priority, and we consistently do all that we can to effect lasting change, that they might continue to lead healthy, sober lives long after they have left our care.
Freedom from benzos or other substances 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. 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 Addiction Treatment In Arizona
Benzo addiction is a complex issue and recovery will require ongoing support. At Royal Life Detox, we offer comprehensive rehab programs to ensure long-term success in maintaining sobriety. Our team will work with you to create an individualized plan that includes therapy, support groups, and other resources that can aid in your recovery journey.
Don’t let benzos control your life any longer. Take the first step towards healing by seeking professional help at Royal Life Detox. Our compassionate staff is here to guide you through the process and provide a safe and comfortable environment for your detox. We understand the challenges of benzo addiction and are dedicated to helping you overcome them.
Because We Care.
