Benzodiazepine Addiction

What are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines are prescription medications used to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, panic and trauma. Some well-known and frequently prescribed benzodiazepines include Xanax, Valium, Klonopin and Librium. With anxiety and panic disorders regularly topping the list of America’s most prevalent mental health disorders, benzodiazepines are likewise among the most commonly prescribed medications. Unfortunately, they are also among the most commonly misused prescription drugs; according to the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly two million people aged 12 and over had misused prescription-strength tranquilizing drugs including benzodiazepines in the past year.

Often referred to as “benzos,” these medications have sedative, hypnotic, anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and muscle relaxant properties. They produce a sleepy, relaxing and euphoric high that is powerfully addictive: the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reported nearly 800,000 benzodiazepine-related substance use disorders diagnosed in 2017. While compared to other substance use disorders this number may not seem high, it is essential to note that it comprises nearly half of the number of people who reported misusing benzodiazepines. This is a strong indicator of the real addictive power of these drugs and emphasizes the importance of recognizing benzodiazepine abuse and getting treatment right away.

Avalon Malibu provides effective, high-quality treatment for benzodiazepine addiction, other substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health disorders in the Los Angeles area. Our beautiful substance abuse treatment center, The Cottage House, is home to our nationally accredited treatment program for drug and alcohol addiction. Avalon provides on-site detox, a full-time residential program and intensive outpatient programming for adult men and women seeking an unparalleled, comfortable and rejuvenating recovery experience. Please contact us today if you or someone you care about is ready to begin healing from benzodiazepine addiction.

How do Benzodiazepines Work?

Benzodiazepines enhance the effects of chemical communicators in the brain called neurotransmitters. In particular, benzodiazepines boost a neurotransmitter called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is known for suppressing activity in brain cells that cause anxiety and stress. Benzodiazepines, therefore, make effective medications for stress, panic and anxiety disorders; short-term or sporadic use of these drugs is generally recognized as beneficial for patients who are diagnosed with these concerns.

However, long-term use, overuse or misuse of these drugs is problematic due to the potential for tolerance and addiction. Repeated use of benzodiazepines leads to the brain requiring larger amounts of the drug to achieve the same effect, which in turn leads to chemical imbalances in the brain that cause cravings and addiction. In some cases, even individuals who begin taking benzodiazepines as prescribed can become addicted when they feel as though their prescribed dose is no longer effective, and they start taking more.

Since benzodiazepines are a common medication for anxiety and panic disorders, many individuals who enter treatment for benzodiazepines also have a co-occurring mental health disorder. They may have initially used the medications to treat anxiety or panic disorder, or they may have an underlying disorder without a diagnosis but began using unprescribed benzodiazepines to self-medicate. In cases like benzodiazepine addiction, it is essential to seek treatment at a center like Avalon Malibu in the Los Angeles area that is equipped to treat both substance abuse and mental health concerns.

Drug-Induced Psychosis and Benzodiazepines

Along with co-occurring disorders, there is another mental health risk associated with misusing these drugs: a phenomenon known as drug-induced psychosis, in which abusing a mind-altering substance causes problematic mental health symptoms that last beyond physical sobriety. Benzodiazepines come with a high risk of this concern because they directly influence brain pathways that control anxiety, stress and fear. Using benzodiazepines frequently will drain these pathways of their natural ability to remain balanced and stable, resulting in symptoms similar to an anxiety or paranoia disorder even if the individual did not have these concerns before becoming addicted.

At Avalon Malibu, we treat addiction effectively while providing lasting solutions for related mental health symptoms like drug-induced psychosis or co-occurring disorders. Without addressing all sides of the problem, the individual will be at a higher risk for relapse and will struggle to find long-lasting sobriety.