Benzodiazepine addiction and abuse are widespread in the United States due to increasing prescriptions. It is not surprising that many experts refer to how these drugs are misused as the benzodiazepine epidemic. People who get addicted to these drugs should strongly consider going through detox and treatment at a benzo rehab center to get off them. But because they are available by prescription, people tend to think of them as safe. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
We want people to know that help for benzo addiction is available at Northpoint Seattle. Our benzo rehab center is equipped to guide you through the process of recovering from benzo abuse.
What Are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines are prescription medications that depress the central nervous system by releasing a tranquilizing brain chemical. This means they limit the central nervous system’s responses to external stimuli, helping calm the user. For this reason, benzodiazepines are classified and referred to as a tranquilizer. They are among the most commonly prescribed medications in the United States but are registered as Schedule IV drugs due to the Federal Controlled Substances Act.
Benzodiazepines are prescribed to individuals for several psychological and neurological disorders, including:
- Insomnia
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic attacks and panic disorders
- Alcohol withdrawals
Since benzodiazepines work by depressing the central nervous system, they effectively relieve anxiety, stress, and panic attacks.
There are a variety of different types of medications within the benzodiazepine class. Each has a slightly different effect on different individuals. The following descriptions should not be seen as medical advice; only a licensed medical doctor should prescribe any benzodiazepine or other medication to you.
Benzodiazepines can be grouped into four categories depending on the symptoms or disorder they treat.
- Alprazolam and clonazepam are used mainly to treat panic disorders.
- Temazepam and lorazepam help those with insomnia or other difficulties sleeping.
- Clonazepam, clorazepate, and diazepam help mostly with seizure disorders, like epilepsy.
- Chlordiazepoxide is often used to aid alcoholics during the withdrawal process.
Some brand name benzodiazepine medications include:
- Restoril (Temazepam)
- Valium (Diazepam)
- Xanax (Alprazolam)
- Klonopin (Clonazepam)
- Ativan (Lorazepam)
- Librium (Chlordiazepoxide)
Again, benzodiazepines are mainly used to treat anxiety and panic disorders, but a doctor should be the one to determine their necessity. Since there is a high potential for addiction to benzodiazepines, taking them without a doctor’s recommendation and supervision can be dangerous.
Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction
As with any addiction, you must take treatment for benzodiazepine addiction seriously. It must also be specified to each patient’s needs and addiction history. After detoxing from benzos addiction, individuals can turn to Northpoint Seattle to find the rehab program that meets their needs. We offer extensive outpatient treatment with an emphasis on addressing co-occurring disorders.
Most people with benzodiazepine addiction do not realize the importance of rehab during recovery. Many of them assume that it must be safe because a doctor prescribed the drug they use. In their minds, that also means that it is safe for them to stop taking it. However, this is not the case.
Benzodiazepine addiction can lead to devastating withdrawal symptoms when the drugs are stopped. Through detox, the possibility of relapsing due to withdrawal is reduced. This gives people hope that recovery is possible, and they feel much more motivated to continue.
Remember that detox is not the sole component of recovering from benzo addiction. People need to move on to the rehabilitation phase of treatment afterward to understand why they started using and how to address those issues to prevent relapse.
Learn More About Benzo Addiction, Detox, and Rehab Programs by Reaching Out to Northpoint Seattle
At Northpoint Seattle, we help people who suffer from benzodiazepine addiction. We offer outpatient rehab, and we have several levels of care for our clients. They are intensive outpatient treatment, partial hospitalization, and traditional outpatient rehab.
Would you like to know more about benzodiazepine abuse and addiction? Are you interested in starting a quality rehab program in Idaho? Please contact us at 425.414.3530.