They are known as mother’s little helpers, or as things to take the edge off. They have legitimate uses but can be abused. What are they? Benzos.
Benzodiazpine or benzos are drugs that relax certain brain chemicals. Doctors prescribe benzos to sedate people, relax muscles, promote sleep, and treat convulsions and anxiety.
The effects of benzodiazepines can be extremely brief (benzos such as Halcion and Versed), or appear for a short duration (Ativan or Xanax). Longer-lasting benzos include Valium and Librium. Other types of common benzos include generic benzos such as lorzepam and clonazepam.
Benzodiazepine addiction in California, and across the United States, is sadly common. Calling Monarch Shores to find benzodiazepine treatment in California could prevent you from becoming one of those numbers.
Common Benzodiazepines
There are many different drugs that all under the umbrella of the benzodiazepine class of depressant drugs. Commonly abused benzodiazepines include:
It doesn’t matter which drug you may be addicted to, the highly-trained staff at Monarch Shores can help you recover from your benzo addiction. Our safe and effective program can help you complete your recovery journey and take back control of your life and your health.
Benzodiazepine Addiction in California
Benzos are readily available, since doctors prescribe them often. Benzodiazepine abusers also might also steal prescriptions. Some criminals add benzos to their victims’ drinks to commit sexual assaults because benzos impair a person’s actions and ability to resist.
People sometimes accidentally misuse benzos by taking too many at once or missing doses, or take benzos with drugs or alcohol. Benzodiazepine abusers might intentionally take benzos for longer than recommended, use them without prescriptions, or steal benzos.
Benzodiazepine misuse becomes benzodiazepine abuse if people feel they need benzos to function, if they develop tolerance, or if benzodiazepine use has harmed them. But it is possible to find benzodiazepine addiction treatment in California.
Short-Term Signs of Benzo Use
Since it affects the central nervous system, benzodiazepine produces symptoms that relate to the mind and the body:
- euphoria
- confusion
- depression
- memory loss
- poor coordination
- slurred speech
- impaired vision
- dizziness
- tremors
- headaches
- dry mouth
- nausea
- constipation or diarrhea
Injecting benzos can cause scarring, damaged veins, infections, blood clots, organ damage, the loss of limbs, and strokes or death.
Taking too much benzodiazepine can create serious side effects:
- mood swings
- anger
- anxiety
- sleep or extreme sedation
- shallow and slow breathing
- unconsciousness
- coma
- death
People do not typically die from using benzos but from combining them with other substances. Using alcohol with benzos is dangerous, because alcohol, like benzodiazepine, depresses the central nervous system. Taking benzos with alcohol can intensify the effects of both depressants, causing over-sedation and dangerously slow bodily functions.
Long-Term Signs of Benzo Addiction
Using benzodiazepine for longer periods of time can create different symptoms:
- changes in personality
- depression
- anxiety and irritability
- paranoia
- lethargy
- memory loss and faulty thinking
- headaches
- fatigue and drowsiness
- insomnia
- weight gain and skin rashes
Long-term benzo use can cause your body and mind to become addicted. Without benzos, you could feel terrible and go through withdrawal.
Withdrawal and Detox of Benzo Addiction
When you are withdrawing from benzodiazepine, some of the side effects might resemble conditions, such as anxiety, that led you to take them initially. Other side effects of withdrawal resemble symptoms you might experience when you take benzos (or take too many benzos):
- headaches
- irritability
- concentration problems
- insomnia or strange dreams
- stomach problems, including nausea
- paranoia, delusions, and hallucinations
- dizziness and tremors
These side effects could occur if you stop taking benzos all at once, so it is important to withdraw from benzos gradually. Visiting a doctor could help with this tapering process. You can find such medical assistance at a licensed detox center in a benzodiazepine addiction treatment facility in California.
Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment in California and Rehab
Monarch Shores is a benzodiazepine addiction treatment center in California has professionals who can help you detox from benzos safely. These staff members can provide medical attention such as prescription drugs to make you more comfortable. They can monitor other medical conditions that need treatment. They can also provide psychological counseling to address your state of mind during detox and withdrawal.
Recognize Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Abusing benzos can create insomnia, anxiety, memory issues, headaches, weakness, tremors, and anorexia. Benzodiazepine abuse can make its users tolerant to benzos. This means that users take so many benzos over such a prolonged period of time they no longer feel benzos’ effects, so they then take more benzos in order to achieve these effects.
This is a familiar cycle for many who use benzos. It is also familiar to professionals who treat substance abuse. Benzodiazepine addiction treatment in California addresses these issues. This treatment helps patients to examine why they use, and works to help them change behaviors.
Helping Loved One with Benzo Addiction in California
If your friends or family members use benzodizepines despite the negative consequences, you might want to speak with them.
It is important to talk with them in a caring manner. Even if you are staging an intervention, keep the tone supportive. You do not want benzodiazepine users to feel as if you are ganging up on them.
Listening is also important. Benzodiazepine users should feel like they can be heard. Maybe they are using benzos because of other problems. Benzodiazepine users should listen to their friends and family members. Benzodiazepine abuse could have hurt them as well, so users should understand that their problems affect others.
Interventions can be good times to discuss treatment strategies. The hosts of interventions should conduct some research to better understand benzodiazepine addiction in California. Part of this research should involve options for benzodiazepine addiction treatment in California.
How Do I Pay for Benzo Addiction Rehab in California?
Research can also be useful when you are paying for your benzodiazepine addiction treatment in California. If you call Monarch Shores, you can speak with counselors who can work with your medical insurance.
Using this insurance information, the counselors will help you find benzodiazepine addiction treatment in California. This treatment can give you the tools to end your benzodiazepine abuse and find sobriety.
