While addiction to any substance is difficult, benzo addiction can be notoriously challenging for its uncomfortable and often life-threatening withdrawal symptoms.
For people who are showing signs of or experiencing side effects of benzo addiction, there is hope for recovery. High-quality treatment at facilities like Otter House Wellness can help you manage addiction.
Read on to learn more about the treatment options for benzo addiction and what you can expect for benzo addiction recovery at Otter House Wellness in North Carolina.
How Does Benzodiazepine Addiction Start?
Benzodiazepine addiction often starts after someone has been prescribed one of these medications by their physician.
These meds are usually prescribed for an anxiety disorder, sleep disorder, panic disorder, or alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Benzos that are commonly prescribed include diazepam, lorazepam, clonazepam, and alprazolam.
Regular use may become benzodiazepine abuse, once a person discovers that they enjoy its effects and want to feel them more intensely or when not actually needed.
The effects of these prescription drugs include relaxation and euphoria caused by increased GABA activity in the brain.
Abuse may then lead to benzodiazepine dependence once the person can no longer function without it or at the same low dose.
If you or someone you love is living with an addiction to a benzodiazepine, Otter House Wellness is here to help through targeted treatment methods.
What Are Signs of Benzo Addiction?
Recognizing the signs of benzo addiction is vital, especially if you or a loved one has a current prescription to benzos such as Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, or Valium.
Signs of benzo addiction include:
- Frequent drowsiness
- Loss of interest in usual activities and hobbies
- Impaired memory and judgement
- A preoccupation with benzos
- Doctor shopping
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using
Does Benzo Addiction Lead to Physical Dependence?
Yes, misuse of and addiction to benzos can lead to physical dependence. Once someone is dependent on benzos, they will not be able to function normally without them.
Further, if someone who is dependent on benzos tries to stop taking them, they are likely to experience severe and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
Benzo Withdrawal Symptoms
Benzo withdrawal symptoms can be very uncomfortable. It is often these symptoms that lead people to use the meds again in order to feel better.
With heavy and frequent use, some people may even experience life-threatening symptoms like seizures, coma, delirium, and psychosis. Because of this, professional detoxification is usually recommended.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal symptoms include:
- Sweating
- Cravings
- Tremors
- Nausea and vomiting
- Increased anxiety
- Insomnia
- Muscle aches
- Headaches
- Panic attacks
Causes & Risk Factors for Benzodiazepine Use Disorder
Benzodiazepine addiction is usually caused by a person building up a tolerance to their prescription and becoming physically dependent on it.
This can happen over time and with higher doses, which is why benzos are typically only prescribed to be taken on a short-term basis.
There are also additional factors that can make certain people more prone to experiencing benzo addiction.
Risk factors for a benzodiazepine use disorder include:
- Prescription for benzodiazepines
- History of pervious substance abuse
- Family history of substance abuse
- Long-term use
- High dosage
- Combining benzos with other substances
Who Experiences Benzo Abuse Problems?
Approximately 30.6 million adults in the United States report using benzodiazepines, and around 5.3 million report benzo abuse.
The rate of benzodiazepine abuse is highest among people aged 18 to 25, though these medications are most commonly prescribed in people over 65. In older adults, females are prescribed benzos almost twice as much as males.
Despite these facts, benzo addiction is something that can happen to anyone, which is why prescribing physicians should always monitor their patients closely.
Side Effects of Benzo Abuse
Abusing benzos in order to experience pleasurable, relaxing, and calming effects can also produce numerous negative side effects.
Side effects of benzo abuse include:
- Blurred vision
- Weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal cramps and pain
- Slowed breathing
- Tremors
- Anxiety and depression
- Slurred speech
- Decreased blood pressure
Complications of Benzo Addiction
In addition to negative side effects of benzodiazepines, people who are addicted to benzos often experience other complications.
Complications of benzo addiction include:
- Cognitive impairment and memory problems
- Mental health conditions like anxiety or depression
- Increased risk of benzodiazepine overdose, especially when combining benzos with other central nervous system depressants
- Strained relationships
- Job loss, financial difficulties, or legal problems
Benzo Addiction Treatment Options at Otter House Wellness
Otter House Wellness offers numerous options to treat benzo addiction at different levels, no matter where you are in the addiction recovery process.
Benzodiazepine Detox
Medical detox is an essential component of benzo addiction treatment, as the withdrawal symptoms for benzos can be life-threatening.
During medical detox, people are supervised by medical professionals and given medications to help ease their symptoms and make them more comfortable. During this time, they also taper off the benzos at a safe pace.
Disclaimer: Otter House Wellness does not offer detox services on-site, but partners with nearby facilities to ensure that people who need detox receive help before they begin treatment.
Benzo Outpatient Rehab Programs
Otter House Wellness offers a wide array of outpatient programs, depending on the level of care needed by each person.
Outpatient programs for benzo addiction at Otter House Wellness include:
- Partial hospitalization program (PHP): this type of program provides a high amount of structure and supervision, and is best for people with a severe benzo addiction.
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP): this type of program still provides a high amount of structure and supervision, with slightly more flexibility and free time than a PHP.
- Outpatient program: a type of program that consists of therapy and support groups for benzo addiction, attended at the patient’s convenience and usually by appointment.
Dual Diagnosis Care
Dual diagnosis care at Otter House Wellness and other facilities is aimed at treating people for co-occurring disorders at the same time as their substance abuse.
When underlying issues and disorders are addressed at the same time as addiction, people are less likely to relapse or turn to benzos again in the future when times get challenging.
Therapy for Benzo Addiction
There are several therapy options for benzo addiction, depending on what type of setting the patient prefers or what their personal goals are.
Therapies for benzo addiction include:
- Individual therapy: people work one-on-one with a therapist in order to determine triggers and underlying causes and learn new coping mechanisms.
- Family therapy: family members join people in therapy to help better understand each other and learn better ways to provide support at home.
- Group therapy: similar to individual therapy but performed in a group setting, where people can share stories and experiences and learn together from a counselor.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): a type of behavioral therapy that focuses on replacing negative thoughts and behaviors with positive thoughts and behaviors to improve quality of life.
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): a type of behavioral therapy that focuses on emotion regulation by teaching various skills to improve the way people cope with challenging situations.
What Happens After Benzo Addiction Treatment?
Continuing with recovery care after a benzo addiction treatment program is crucial to your recovery success.
Aftercare options for benzo addiction include:
- Continuing therapy: it is often recommended that people continue therapy after finishing rehab. The frequency and duration of continued treatment will depend on the severity of your condition and your mental health care needs.
- Transitional housing: many people choose to live in sober living environments, such as halfway houses, after completing a program. During this time, you live with others who are also in recovery and who have similar goals for remaining sober.
No matter what level of care you need for your aftercare treatment, Otter House Wellness is dedicated to helping participants of our programs find suitable continuing care options.
Benzodiazepine Addiction Recovery Resources
There are numerous addiction recovery resources available to people who are currently struggling with a benzo use disorder.
Benzo addiction recovery resources include:
- The Alliance for Benzodiazepine Best Practices: an organization that provides information and education for people about benzos and how they can be used and prescribed responsibly.
- Benzo Nation: a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people living with benzo addiction to share their stories and access important information and resources.
- Narcotics Anonymous: an organization that provides support groups both in-person and online for people to share their experiences and find mentorship through the 12 steps.
Find Tailored Benzo Addiction Care at Otter House Wellness
If you or a loved one is living with a substance use disorder involving benzodiazepines, know that there is help available to you immediately at Otter House Wellness.
Our drug abuse program is provided in a serene and supportive environment. Here, we seamlessly combine evidence-based therapies and holistic treatments through customized treatment plans.
Contact us as soon as you have decided that compassionate professional help is the right choice for you.
