“Benzos” or benzodiazepines are a prescription depressant that can be used to treat a variety of conditions, from anxiety to muscle spasms, and have even been known to treat seizures. Benzos are a prescription medication, but they are often accessed through illicit methods including getting prescriptions from multiple different doctors, forging prescription orders, and buying them from sellers off the street. Two of the most commonly abused benzodiazepines are alprazolam (Xanax) and clonazepam (Klonopin). Other common benzos are Lorazepam (Ativan), Diazepam (Valium), and Triazolam (Halcion). Benzos are often abused for their psychological effects, often making users experience euphoria and dissociation. If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of abuse these medications, they should seek benzo addiction treatment.
How Do Benzos Work?
To understand benzo addiction, you must understand how they work and affect the body and brain. Benzos target the central nervous system, slowing it down and causing sleepiness and a sense of relaxation. However, when used frequently they can cause amnesia, hostility, irritability, and vivid dreams that disturb sleep. Because of their high likelihood for addiction and overdose, most benzodiazepines are deemed a controlled substance Schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Alcohol and Benzos
Benzos are a depressant, just like alcohol, and when consumed together the risk of overdose is high. Benzos often have immediate effects, so it can be hard to control how you feel when combining them with alcohol. Research has shown that up to 80% of people who abuse alcohol under the age of 30 have been addicted to at least one other drug, often benzodiazepines. Alcohol amplifies the effects of benzos, so taking the same amount in combination with alcohol that you take without it could be more likely to result in overdose.
Common effects of combining alcohol and benzos include:
- Extreme drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Impaired motor control
- Altered mental state
- Memory issues
- Poor decision making capabilities
- Central nervous system depression – slowed/difficult breathing
- Brain and organ damage
If you see any of these signs in yourself or a loved one, it’s important that you seek benzo addiction treatment promptly.
What is Benzo Addiction Treatment?
The first phase of addiction treatment is benzo detox. Withdrawal symptoms can be very severe, making it very important that you detox under medical supervision. Every type of benzo has a unique half-life, skewing the onset of withdrawal drastically. Detox should be approached differently depending on what type of benzo you have been abusing. Shorter acting benzos like Xanax could yield withdrawal symptoms within 10-12 hours, while longer acting ones like Valium may take several days for withdrawal symptoms to peak. In benzo detox programs, your medical team will prescribe you various medications like anticonvulsants, GABA receptor agonists, and very low dose alternative benzodiazepines. Detoxing in a medical setting helps ensure you do not experience any life threatening withdrawal symptoms.
Once you undergo detox successfully, you will move to the next phase of benzo rehab. We offer benzo addiction treatment programs that can take anywhere from 30 days to 60 days. We help you learn the tools you need to get sober and stay sober. After completing inpatient rehab, you can move to intensive outpatient treatment or a partial hospitalization program. Your treatment team will help you find the right path for your sober living journey.
About Sobriety Options
Sobriety Options is open 24/7 to provide support and care for those seeking substance abuse or mental health treatment. A branch of Solution Based Treatment, we serve as a central admissions office for seven different branches throughout Southern California. Our team is able to help you find the best sober living option for yourself or your loved one to help them get the care they need. For more information visit our website at sobrietyoptions.com or give us a call at (855) 485-0071.
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