Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Programs in Los Angeles
Benzodiazepines are prescribed for many medical conditions, and are designed to help provide relief for many medical conditions. Examples of these prescription drugs include Xanax, Ativan, and Valium, just to name a few. But these medications can also inspire addiction, inspiring more harm than originally intended.
Recovery Zone LA offers in-depth therapeutic benzodiazepine addiction treatment in Los Angeles. We work to support healing in the people that come to us for help, using holistic healing methods to help them build new lives that don’t include substance abuse.
What are Benzodiazepines?
Benzodiazepines, commonly referred to as ‘benzos,’ are potent central nervous system depressants. These medications are widely utilized in a wide range of anxiety, sleep, and depression disorders. The ease of accessibility can contribute to dependency, even if someone doesn’t mean to become addicted.
Signs of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Benzodiazepine dependency is a life-threatening addiction. Consult a medical professional if you or a loved one is showing any of the following signs (or withdrawal symptoms) of benzo addiction.
Irresistible Urges for Benzos
Cravings come with the territory of any form of addiction. However, benzodiazepine cravings can be especially taxing due to their intensity. People who look to quit using benzos may relapse simply to feel relief from withdrawal symptoms.
Distorted Speech
Slurred, stammered, or other irregular speech patterns are a common sign of benzodiazepine abuse. Benzo-induced speech slurring can often mimic similar symptoms to alcohol intoxication, but on a slightly elevated level. It may not be immediately evident that someone is addicted to benzos and experiencing those symptoms.
Breathing Difficulties
In benzo overdose, the central nervous system can be suppressed to a degree of respiratory depression. The results can be life-threatening, due to severely suppressed breathing functions. This is especially dangerous in conjunction with the weariness that benzos are known to induce upon the user. Such circumstances can lead to suffocation deaths.
Body Tremors
A common withdrawal symptom of benzodiazepine addiction is body tremors. These involuntary shakes can be scary, occurring anywhere throughout the body. These shakes can start as soon as a few hours after your most recent use, depending on the severity of the person’s addiction. Thankfully, there are a number of medication aids that can alleviate these and other symptoms on this list.
Mood Swings
Elevated irritability levels and sudden shifts in mood can be indicative of an underlying drug addiction. Moods and behaviors can shift on a dime from one emotion to the next, without any warning. These volatile emotions can be the result of suppressed neurobiological functions and activity in the limbic system. These imbalances can produce drastic and sudden shifts that are out of the addicted person’s control, leading to rash actions and responses.
Short-Term Effects of Benzodiazepine Addiction
The short-term effects of benzos consist of mental and physical responses while under the influence. These can include:
- Disorientation: Benzos-induced disorientation is different from other circumstantial distortions in the sense that it is more severe. This can dangerously impede your perception of your circumstance, causing you to be a danger to yourself or those around you.
- Suppressed Breathing Patterns: Benzos’ depressive effects on the central nervous system trickle down into suppressed respiratory functions. In severe cases, such as overdose, breathing can stop entirely.
- Detachment or Confusion: Benzodiazepine abuse can cause one to be oblivious of or confused about their surroundings. This means they may be unaware of their surroundings and nearby hazards or falls, making this a very dangerous side effect.
- Slurred or Incomprehensible Speech: Slurred speech, indiscernible mumbling, or other abnormal speech impediments are a common sign of severe benzodiazepine intoxication. In severe cases, this can be indicative of an impending overdose.
Long-Term Consequences of Benzodiazepine Addiction
Drug abuse, especially prolonged benzodiazepine abuse, can induce numerous health problems over time. Medical detox can help people coming off of benzo addiction deal with problems that emerge in the moment, as well as help support the body so the person can avoid the worst long-term effects of benzodiazepine addiction.
Cardiovascular Problems
Heart disease, arrhythmia, heart failure, irregular heartbeat, and other cardiovascular issues have been directly linked to benzodiazepine abuse. These can occur due to the severely depressive effects that tax the heart and the surrounding vessels. In the most severe cases, blood clots in the heart muscle can occur — sometimes without warning.
Permanent Memory Problems
A strong connection has been established between drug addiction and permanent memory problems. This can include an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other long-term memory deficiencies. In addition, memory lapses (such as forgetfulness) as well as planning and prioritization, can also take place.
Incurred Mental Health Conditions
Addiction to benzodiazepines can be highly detrimental to mental health. When not used in strict adherence to the recommended dosage, these medications can incur or worsen conditions for which they’re prescribed. When abused, they can incite or aggravate numerous personality, anxiety, and depression disorders.
Chronic Stomach Problems
Benzo abuse is extremely disruptive to the digestive system and the stomach lining in particular. As use persists, these stomach problems can become a permanent, irreversible fixture. Chronic issues such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), stomach ulcers, or other related digestive issues can arise as a result of benzo addiction. Recent studies even suggest a greater risk of developing several stomach cancers.
Neurological Disorders
Some sources cite that benzodiazepine abuse and other addictions can contribute to the development of neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease. This link was established through depressants’ adverse effects on neurobiological disruptions and central nervous system depressions. When your body is persistently exposed to these effects, these permanent neuronal damages can lead to potentially irreversible neurobiological effects.
Organ Damage
Your heart isn’t the only organ affected by benzodiazepines. Kidneys, liver, and other vital organs and functions can be disrupted. Prolonged benzodiazepine use induces kidney or liver disease, blood pressure issues, and a wide range of other permanent health issues.
Even if some degree of damage has been done to the body, it’s never too late to get help for benzodiazepine. Receiving help for benzo addiction can help you repair some of these consequences and prevent further harm.
Treatment Options for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Recovery Zone LA’s benzodiazepine addiction treatment in Los Angeles is available in multiple formats. Depending on your setting preference, monitoring necessities, and other variables, our admission professionals can assist in helping you find the best fit for your recovery.
Intensive Outpatient Programs
Partial Hospitalization Programs
Outpatient Detox
Dual Diagnosis Treatment
“Dual diagnosis” treatment refers to treating addiction while taking into account the person’s existing mental health conditions. A dual diagnosis program helps treat the person’s mental illness while helping them learn how to manage it without the use of addictive substances. This leads to lower relapse rates on average, and can even empower the person to feel confident in their own ability to care for themselves.
Contact Recovery Zone LA for Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment
Recovery Zone LA provides benzodiazepine addiction treatment in Los Angeles designed to directly help the people who need help today. We go beyond therapy and medical assistance to help people rebuild their lives and feel empowered to live without returning to addictive substances.
It is possible to heal from benzo addiction, and it’s not too late to ask for help. Connect with us today to begin changing your life for the better.
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