Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
What Is Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Benzodiazepine addiction occurs when a person develops dependence on these prescription sedatives. While addiction can sometimes develop even with proper medical use, it more frequently affects those who misuse these medications by taking them without a prescription or in higher doses than prescribed.
This dependence not only causes disruptive symptoms and impacts daily functioning, but can also become life-threatening, particularly when benzodiazepines are mixed with other depressants like alcohol. Effective treatment involves medically supervised detoxification, residential care, therapy, and ongoing support to achieve and maintain recovery.
Benzodiazepine Facts and Statistics
These central nervous system depressants are prescribed for anxiety, muscle relaxation, and seizure prevention. While therapeutic, they can create dependence and are sometimes abused for their calming and euphoric effects. Common examples include:
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Diazepam (Valium)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
Important considerations:
• Classified as Schedule IV controlled substances
• More prevalent among women and older adults
• Particularly dangerous when combined with opioids
• Xanax remains the most abused benzodiazepine among teens
Effective World-Class Treatment for Benzo Addiction at Alta Mira
At Alta Mira, treatment begins with 24/7 medically monitored detox to safely manage withdrawal. Our program incorporates:
Individual behavioral therapies
Group and family counseling
Support groups
Holistic approaches (art therapy, yoga, meditation)
Relapse prevention strategies
Successful recovery involves recognizing triggers, building healthy coping mechanisms, and establishing strong support networks. With proper treatment, individuals can overcome benzodiazepine dependence and maintain lasting sobriety.
Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Symptoms of benzodiazepine addiction include those that are characteristic of other types of addiction. Someone with benzodiazepine dependence will use the drug often and in increasingly larger doses as they develop a tolerance. They may try to stop using or limit their use of the drug but without success. They will always be thinking about and trying to get the next dose. This addiction also causes withdrawal when a person tries to stop using it.
There are also noticeable signs of abuse of benzodiazepines, including drowsiness, confusion, impaired thinking, lethargy, poor coordination, and slurred speech. As depressants, these drugs cause effects similar to alcohol. Someone abusing benzodiazepines may seem intoxicated: more outwardly gregarious and cheerful, but then stumbling, slurring their words, and confused with higher doses. Signs of using higher doses of benzos and long term effects of this abuse include:
- Impaired reflexes
- Slowed breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or constipation
- Loss of appetite
- Mood swings
- Irrational and angry outbursts
- Euphoria
- Difficulty remembering things
- Impaired judgment
- Disorientation
Causes and Risk Factors of Benzo Addiction
Benzodiazepine dependence is caused by abuse of one or more of these drugs, although it is possible to become dependent even with prescribed use. The longer the drug is used or abused and the greater the dosage used, the more likely a person is to become addicted. Abusing a benzodiazepine puts a person at a greater risk for addiction than someone who is using it as directed. Short-acting benzodiazepines are more likely to cause dependence, because they trigger more withdrawal, which in turn can lead to greater abuse of the drug to get relief from those symptoms.
While use and abuse of benzodiazepines are the potential causes of addiction, there are also several risk factors for both abusing these drugs and becoming dependent on them. Family history and a genetic propensity for addiction can be a contributing factor, for example. Being a woman is an important risk factor too, as women are by far more likely to be prescribed benzodiazepines. Other risk factors include having other substance abuse problems or addictions, having a mental illness, lower socioeconomic status, being around other people who abuse benzodiazepines, being unemployed, engaging in risky and impulsive behaviors, and experiencing trauma or abuse when younger.
Knowing When It's Time for Benzo Addiction Treatment
Addiction to benzodiazepines is not a choice nor a sign of weakness. It is a condition of the brain that can respond to targeted treatment. When your loved one comes to Alta Mira, they will finally have a chance to be free from the debilitating effects of benzo addiction.
While you can have an influence on your loved one’s decision to seek treatment, an individual struggling with benzodiazepine addiction must take ultimate responsibility for their own recovery. Your support and encouragement may be what will finally convince them to seek help for their struggles with benzos.
- The Challenge. Helping a loved one who is struggling with benzos can be a long and heartbreaking journey. It can be hard to help someone, particularly if they don’t want help or if they live far away. Many families wait years beyond the time that they first thought about intervening.
- Get Help for Yourself. If you have a loved one who is suffering from benzo addiction, one of the first things you can do is take care of yourself by attending peer support meetings like Nar-Anon.
- Consider an Interventionist. The longer you wait for someone to “hit bottom,” the more their disease advances. You can actually increase the chance of a successful outcome by intervening with your loved one before their disease progresses to a more dangerous level. However, organizing your family to set limits and boundaries to get a loved one into rehab can be challenging.
Hiring a professional interventionist can help the family get organized as a team, prepare to speak to the addict in a coordinated way, to give your loved one the best possible chance of successfully arriving in treatment. Interventionists can also be helpful during and after the treatment experience, providing support and coaching to the family to ensure that the patient completes treatment. If you are considering an intervention, our admissions team can also help you with this process.
How Our Luxury Benzo Addiction Rehab Center Transforms Lives
Residential treatment for benzodiazepine addiction is the best option for you or your loved one. Our luxury benzo rehab is designed for a safe detox and successful recovery from addiction. During treatment, we’ll provide you with an array of tools to guide your benzo recovery, such as a personalized treatment plan, holistic and alternative therapies, group therapy, family therapy, life skills training, and help with exercise and nutrition. During your stay at Alta Mira, you’ll have an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This will include comprehensive services for any co-occurring conditions that might be complicating or supporting your benzo addiction.
Our Transformational Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Program
Your first 30 days of treatment at Alta Mira is referred to as your Detox, Stabilization, Assessment period, which begins with private, medically supervised detox. During this time, our detox specialists will keep you safe and secure, monitored 24/7, as you rest in the privacy of your own room.
You can also expect:
- Weekly meetings with a psychiatrist
- Weekly meetings with a medical doctor
- Neuropsychological testing and advanced psychological testing
- Orientation to our recovery fundamentals and self-regulation skills development
- In-depth family engagement and the option for loved ones to attend multiple 3-day family programs
- Introduction to therapy groups
The Courage to Change
Lasting change takes time. It can take six weeks to change a simple habit. Changing behavior following benzo addiction can be very challenging. Learning how to develop clean and sober behaviors, effectively deal with triggers and stressors, take medication as prescribed, and make healthy lifestyle changes to support long-term recovery can take time.
Working Together
We understand that in order for treatment to be successful, we must listen closely and truly understand your needs, aspirations, personal history, and treatment goals. All members of our care team align closely with you so that you feel safe, respected, and ready to do your work. With this approach, Alta Mira co-creates a profound healing experience with you so you can achieve your recovery goals and reclaim your life.
Reclaim Your Life at Our Private Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Center Today
We believe individuals are best able to focus on their recovery when immersed in a secure, serene, healing setting. That’s why we provide comfortable surroundings while maintaining the most advanced and sophisticated benzo rehab program in Northern California. Clients can expect compassionate care from our best-in-class benzodiazepine addiction specialists.
Seeking a helping hand to guide you through these difficult times is not an easy decision. Our caring and experienced team at Alta Mira can help guide you through the next steps toward achieving lasting recovery.
Don’t let benzos control your life. To begin your life-changing transformation, contact us today.
How Our Luxury Opiate Rehab Center Transforms Lives
During your stay at Alta Mira, you’ll have an individualized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. This will include comprehensive services for any co-occurring conditions that might be complicating or supporting your opiate addiction.
Our Transformational Opiate Addiction Treatment Program
Your first 30 days of treatment at Alta Mira is referred to as your Detox, Stabilization, Assessment period, which begins with private, medically supervised detox. During this time, our detox specialists will keep you safe and secure, monitored 24/7, as you rest in the privacy of your own room.
You can also expect:
- Weekly meetings with a psychiatrist
- Weekly meetings with a medical doctor
- Neuropsychological testing and advanced psychological testing
- Orientation to our recovery fundamentals and self-regulation skills development
- In-depth family engagement and the option for loved ones to attend multiple 3-day family programs
- Introduction to therapy groups
The Courage to Change
Lasting change takes time. It can take six weeks to change a simple habit. Changing behavior following opiate addiction can be very challenging. Learning how to develop clean and sober behaviors, effectively deal with triggers and stressors, take medication as prescribed, and make healthy lifestyle changes to support long-term recovery can take time.
Working Together
We understand that in order for treatment to be successful, we must listen closely and truly understand your needs, aspirations, personal history, and treatment goals. All members of our care team align closely with you so that you feel safe, respected, and ready to do your work. With this approach, Alta Mira co-creates a profound healing experience with you so you can achieve your recovery goals and reclaim your life.
Reclaim Your Life in Alta Mira’s World-Class Opiate Addiction Treatment Program
We believe individuals are best able to focus on their recovery when immersed in a secure, serene, healing setting. That’s why we provide comfortable surroundings while maintaining the most advanced and sophisticated opiate rehab program in Northern California. Clients can expect compassionate care from our best-in-class opiate addiction specialists.
Seeking a helping hand to guide you through these difficult times is not an easy decision. Our caring and experienced team at Alta Mira can help guide you through the next steps toward achieving lasting recovery.
Don’t let opiate addiction destroy your life. To get help and begin your life-changing transformation, contact us today.
Benzo Addiction FAQs
Page Content
What Is Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Effective World-Class Treatment for Benzo Addiction at Alta Mira
Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Causes and Risk Factors of Benzo Addiction
Knowing When It's Time for Benzo Addiction Treatment
How Our Luxury Benzo Addiction Rehab Center Transforms Lives
Reclaim Your Life at Our Private Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Center Today
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