Addiction is a serious affliction that impacts millions of individual families worldwide each year. Benzodiazepines, also commonly referred to as benzos, are a class of drugs that are considered barbiturates, or mental sedatives. Common forms of benzodiazepines include Xanax, or Alprazolam, Klonopin, diazepam, and lorazepam.
Unfortunately, although benzodiazepines may be extremely helpful for short-term and fast-acting results when it comes to anxiety and panic attack disorders, they are also considered one of the most addictive substances for the brain and body. Understanding the addictive nature of benzodiazepines can help you or a loved one seek the potential treatment you require for a complete and full recovery after developing a dependency or addiction yourself.
Prescription Benzodiazepine Statistics
Did you know that more than 30% of overdoses involving opioids and opiates also involve benzodiazepines? With the rise of benzodiazepine misuse and abuse, it is no wonder that so many doctors and medical clinics today simply refuse to prescribe the medications to patients.
From 1996 to 2013 alone, the prescription rate for benzodiazepines jumped from 4.1 percent to more than 5.6 percent. As individuals become increasingly isolated and more anxious than ever, doctors are turning to prescribing benzodiazepines, which are typically optimal only for short-term panic attacks and solutions.
Unfortunately, prescription benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium can be extremely fast-acting and addictive, causing an individual who may be struggling with serious anxiety issues to require more of the substance in a shorter period of time than with alternative medications and treatments.
Why is it Difficult to Spot the Signs and Symptoms of a Benzo Addiction?
Spotting a benzo addiction is not always easy, especially if an individual eases their way into using and consuming their benzodiazepine prescription. Unless someone begins immediately ingesting too much of their benzodiazepine when they are just starting off, it can be tricky determining when an individual is struggling with consumption or may be abusing the medicine.
Both adults and teens can struggle with benzodiazepine addictions, which is why it is important to know the signs and symptoms of a prescription drug addiction any time you believe you or a loved one is struggling.
Oftentimes, an individual who is struggling with a benzo addiction may only consume their medications in private, keeping others from knowing the true amount of medication they are dosing with each day. Additionally, those who wish to keep their habit(s) out of the public eye may only consume the amount of medicine necessary for them to feel satisfied, not out of body, especially in public.
Some signs to watch for when it comes to identifying a benzo addiction include:
How Does a Benzo Addiction Progress?
A benzodiazepine addiction, like many other addictions, typically begins innocently and without the individual consuming the drugs knowing just how powerful and addictive they can become in the body and throughout the brain. When an individual is prescribed a benzodiazepine medication such as Valium, Klonopin, or Xanax, they are likely to achieve the desired results of stress and panic relief. Due to the fast-acting nature of benzos, an individual may find themselves becoming more reliant on their prescriptions, thus requiring more in order to maintain their preferred baseline.
Over time, benzos have the ability to work with less potency as the body develops a tolerance to the substance(s). When an individual no longer feels relief from their standard dosage of a benzodiazepine, they are likely to feel tempted to increase their dosage on their own. Continuously increasing the amount of benzodiazepine you take regularly will not only cause you to become more dependent on benzos yourself, but you will also develop a serious physical and mental addiction to substances.
How Does Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Help
Finding the right treatment for benzodiazepine addiction is key to long-term and ongoing success. Whether you opt for a standard outpatient program near you locally or if you are interested in enrolling in a program offered by a southern California rehab, there are plenty of options to choose from when it comes to getting your life back on track and freeing yourself from the claws of addiction.
A benzodiazepine addiction treatment program will provide you with access to addiction and medical specialists who understand just how serious and life-threatening a benzo addiction can become. With a rehab center, work together with medical professionals, case managers, and addiction counselors who are dedicated to helping individuals in need to get their lives back.
With the right treatment program, like Mission Harbor, learn how to live life without feeling dependent on substances such as benzos, even if you are struggling with anxiety, depression, and other panic or mood disorders in your daily life. With the right addiction treatment center, facility, or program, you can also learn to better communicate about your struggles with anxiety as well as your prescription medications in front of counselors, therapists, medical health professionals, as well as other individuals enrolled in your program.
Turn to both individual counseling sessions as well as group therapy meetings to get to know more about how others face and confront their benzo addictions without feeling shamed, guilted, or judged. Choosing a treatment center that is welcoming and judgment-free is one of the best ways to commit to getting sober and turning away from your benzodiazepine addiction altogether.
Seeking addiction treatment is not always easy, especially if you do not believe you have a prescription drug addiction or if you are new to the concept of addiction and losing control. With the right southern California rehab, it is possible to reassess and reevaluate your life to find a path that is optimal for you and your future without the use of drugs, alcohol, or prescription benzodiazepines.
By taking the time to seek out the benzodiazepine addiction treatment you require, you can learn to live your life again without feeling trapped and constrained by your prescriptions or anti-anxiety medications. And if you’d like more information about how Mission Harbor can help, contact us today.
The facilities at Mission Harbor are staffed with trained experts to best assist patients with their mental health issues. We are capable of dealing with any and all cases with a licensed staff, equipment, and approved techniques. Our mission is to help those who want to help themselves, and we support your decision in seeking help.
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