Benzodiazepine Detox
Addiction to prescription drugs is, unfortunately, not uncommon. Among them, benzodiazepines have been known to carry some potential for addiction – especially in cases of prolonged use. Such cases will commonly require benzodiazepine detox treatment to get the individual past the withdrawal phase and onto the road to recovery. At Alamo Behavioral Health, we have treated benzodiazepine addiction manifold. We’re keenly familiar with how trauma can kindle it and how hard it can be to uproot. As the behavioral health center San Antonio trusts, here we’d like to share our insights and offer you some peace of mind about the rehabilitation process in our Benzo detox in Texas.
WHAT ARE BENZODIAZEPINES?
Benzodiazepines are a class of psychoactive prescription drugs, and they act as central nervous system (CNS) depressants. In the US, they are categorized as Schedule IV Controlled Substances because of their potential for abuse. That potential, while lesser than other controlled substances, is still notable; benzodiazepine addiction may develop even when they’re prescribed and used properly.
Benzodiazepines may be prescribed to treat an array of conditions, disorders, and symptoms. Their typical uses include treating anxiety and related disorders, insomnia, and seizures. Beyond prescriptions, they may be misused as recreational drugs – as we’ll see next.
Benzodiazepines are most commonly abbreviated as “benzos” but also go by other street names when used as illicit drugs. Such names vary and change over time but include “zanies” and “footballs.”
HOW DO BENZODIAZEPINES FUNCTION?
Benzodiazepines slow brain and central nervous system functions. They attach to the brain’s gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA-A) receptors, making the brain less sensitive to stimulation. In doing so, they have a calming effect, which makes them very potent for their intended uses.
This is the basic way in which benzodiazepines work, but individual ones may differ in function or effect. Some may act on different GABA-A receptor sub-types, for example, depending on the drug’s intended use. Others may have more euphoric effects or last longer, also depending on what the individual drug seeks to treat.
COMMON BENZODIAZEPINES
A common reason why benzodiazepine detox treatment often becomes necessary is the sheer availability of benzodiazepines. The DEA outlines the following common drugs of this class:
- Valium®
- Xanax®
- Halcion®
- Ativan®
- Klonopin®
Other shorter-acting drugs see use for treating insomnia and are rather common as well, including:
- Estazolam (ProSom®)
- Flurazepam (Dalmane®)
- Temazepam (Restoril®)
- Triazolam (Halcion®)
Midazolam (Versed®) also sees use for sedation in critical care settings.
Ones with longer action durations see the use for treating daytime anxiety and its symptom of insomnia, including:
- Alprazolam (Xanax®)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Librium®)
- Clorazepate (Tranxene®)
- Diazepam (Valium®)
- Halazepam (Paxipam®)
- Lorazepam (Ativan®)
- Oxazepam (Serax®)
- Prazepam (Centrax®)
- Quazepam (Doral®)
Finally, the following benzodiazepines see use as anticonvulsants:
- Clonazepam(Klonopin®)
- Diazepam
- Clorazepate
As you can see, this class of drugs is far from uncommon. Combine its availability with its potential for abuse, and addiction may often follow.
HOW DOES BENZODIAZEPINE ADDICTION DEVELOP?
There are three main ways in which addiction to benzodiazepines typically develops:
- Proper long-term use under prescription
- Misuse by appropriating the prescription of someone else, like a relative or friend
- Misuse as a recreational drug, often in combination with other illicit drugs
In all cases, using will often lead to dependence. Studies find that as much as four weeks of use may lead to initial dependence, and NCBI identifies a neural basis for that phenomenon. This is why services for benzo addiction treatment in Texas have become so valuable in recent years, as overprescription and illicit use both increase.
How an individual may finally become addicted does differ, but the typical process requires long-term use and dependence:
- Tolerance; long-term use causes the individual to develop tolerance to the effects of a drug. This may urge the individual to consume the drug more frequently or in larger quantities for the desired effect.
- Dependence; long-term use and tolerance may then lead to physical dependence. The individual will find it hard to function properly without the drug and increasingly think about consuming it.
- Addiction; strong dependence may finally lead to addiction. The individual may still crave the drug long after the prescription ends, think about it, and fail to function without it.
It’s important to note that neither tolerance nor dependence constitutes addiction. You may naturally develop tolerance to any given drug, and dependence is not uncommon either. In both cases, close contact with your physician can help manage them. It’s only when both remain unmanaged that addiction typically develops.
HOW COMMON IS BENZODIAZEPINE ADDICTION?
Benzodiazepine addiction may not be the most common kind of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), but it is not uncommon either. Out of all US adults, it’s estimated that:
- 5% use benzodiazepines
- 1% misuse some benzodiazepine drug
- 2% have developed an SUD
Among those adults who do use benzodiazepines, 17.1% misuse them, and 2% have developed an SUD.
As such, if you or your loved ones are struggling with addiction, it’s important to know you’re not alone. Seeking benzodiazepine detox treatment is not uncommon or shameful; it’s perfectly normal and the responsible thing to do.
WARNING SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF BENZODIAZEPINE ADDICTION
If you’re suspecting an addiction, you may look out for early warning signs. According to AAC, symptoms can vary and range from physical to mental and behavioral but commonly include:
- Weakness
- Blurred vision
- Drowsiness
- Poor judgment or thinking
- Mood changes
- Doctor shopping
- Combining benzodiazepines with alcohol or other drugs
- Asking friends, family, colleagues, and/or classmates for their benzodiazepine pills
- Wanting to cut back on the volume of abuse but not being able to do so
- Risk-taking behaviors, such as driving after abusing benzodiazepines
Of course, while such symptoms can help, you should always leave diagnoses to your physician and other medical professionals. If you’re concerned about proper use developing into addiction, you should also consult them early.
WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS
Another notable factor in benzodiazepine addiction lies in withdrawal symptoms. Individuals attempting to quit such drugs encounter difficulties because withdrawal symptoms can be quite distressing. Such symptoms also differ substantially but may include:
- Anxiety
- Panic
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Headaches
- Muscle pain and stiffness
- Poor concentration
- Sensory distortions
- Nausea
- Heart palpitations
- High blood pressure
- Agitation
- Tremors
Beyond these typical symptoms, treatment providers for benzo detox in Texas also note the following serious complications:
- Seizures
- Delirium tremens
- Psychosis
- Chronic anxiety and depression
Such symptoms may occur in cases of prolonged use or in ones where individuals have a history of seizures. Additional or more severe symptoms may also occur depending on misuse and drug combinations.
POST-ACUTE WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME (PAWS)
Finally, if one achieves recovery on their own, there’s also the possibility of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). Otherwise known as a protracted withdrawal, PAWS may trigger without warning or a clear cause and may last for months. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) identifies the following PAWS symptoms:
- Difficulty with cognitive tasks, such as learning, problem-solving, or memory recall
- Irritability
- Feelings of anxiety or panic
- Depressed mood
- Obsessive-compulsive behaviors
- Difficulty maintaining social relationships
- Craving originally abused substances
- Apathy or pessimism
- Disturbances in sleep patterns
- Increased sensitivity to stress
Especially in combination with other mental health disorders, PAWS can be quite distressing to the individual – often leading them back to substance use.
TREATING BENZODIAZEPINE ADDICTION
With the above in mind, treating benzodiazepine addiction tends to follow a specific structure. Each step has its own purpose and role, and how the individual progresses to later steps can vary.
To offer you some peace of mind, whether you’re seeking benzo addiction treatment in Texas or elsewhere, here we can briefly outline the process.
DETOX FROM BENZODIAZEPINES IN A TEXAS REHAB CENTER
The first step comes in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), which is a necessity for most cases of addiction. During this phase, the individual remains in a medical facility and receives pharmacotherapy and counseling to get past the initial withdrawal.
How long this phase lasts depends on the case, but medical detox Texas providers offer note that it typically lasts for two weeks in the case of benzodiazepines.
INPATIENT PROGRAMS FOR BENZO DETOX IN SAN ANTONIO
Past Benzo detox in Texas, many individuals require clinical care and supervision. This is often the case when there are such factors to address as:
- Physical symptoms of prolonged misuse the individual needs to recover from
- Other medical conditions which may overlap with addiction or its symptoms
- Co-occurring mental health disorders
In such cases, inpatient or residential programs offer a safe clinical environment to facilitate recovery. Such programs tend to last for about a month but may last less or longer depending on the individual’s needs.
PARTIAL HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAMS
Following inpatient or residential programs, some individuals may still require some clinical care. In such cases, Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHPs) offer a step down before outpatient programs. During them, individuals receive some clinical care alongside psychotherapy but can now reside at home. PHPs tend to last for about two to three weeks, but their duration can also vary.
OUTPATIENT PROGRAMS IN OUR SAN ANTONIO BENZO DETOX CENTER
Outpatient programs are among the most common and effective addiction treatment programs. For milder cases, they can immediately follow benzodiazepine detox treatment, while in others, they may be the next step after inpatient programs or PHPs.
Outpatient programs come in two main variants; outpatient programs (OPs) and intensive outpatient programs (IOPs). The two differ as regards weekly hours of therapy and therapy focus but are otherwise very similar. During both, the individual resides at home and receives continuous individual and group therapy to cement their recovery. The duration of such programs varies considerably, but they tend to last for three to four months.
AFTERCARE – THE FINAL PART OF BENZO REHAB SAN ANTONIO IS PROUD TO OFFER
Finally, the post-treatment phase concludes with aftercare programs. Such programs vary but will often include alumni programs, sober living homes, AA meetings, and other support networks.
The phase of aftercare is a continuous process with no set duration. During it, the individual maintains communication with their therapists and peers. Regardless of the program’s exact offerings, aftercare intends to help the individual avoid relapse and cement their recovery.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BENZODIAZEPINE DETOX TEXAS LOCALS TRUST
Having covered the above, you should hopefully have a much clearer picture of what addiction treatment looks like. It’s a long and gradual process that requires tailored and evidence-based approaches to see through.
As such, it requires that you thoroughly research your treatment providers to ensure you have the best possible allies by your side throughout the journey. If you’re looking for services for benzo detox in Texas, we can outline why you may consider us.
A KEEN FOCUS ON DUAL DIAGNOSIS DURING BENZODIAZEPINE DETOX IN TEXAS
As behavioral health specialists, we understand the prevalence of dual diagnosis very well. Dual diagnosis, where mental health disorders co-occur with addiction, is indeed very common. In the US, NIDA finds that 37.9% of adults with SUDs also have mental health disorders, and 18.2% of those with mental health disorders also have SUDs.
For this reason, we’ve established and run a reputable dual diagnosis treatment center Texas trusts. All of our programs focus keenly on dual diagnosis treatment because we firmly believe that treating both conditions is essential to secure the best recovery outcomes.
TRAUMA-INFORMED TREATMENT AS A PART OF BENZO REHAB IN TEXAS
Adjacent to dual diagnosis comes trauma, which can fuel mental health disorders and addiction. From Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to an array of depressive and anxiety disorders, unresolved trauma can often be debilitating.
Trauma is also very prevalent among US adults, especially among current or former military personnel. The National Center for PTSD estimates that:
- About 6 out of every 100 people (or 6% of the U.S. population) will have PTSD at some point in their lives.
- About 5 out of every 100 adults (or 5%) in the U.S. has PTSD in any given year. In 2020, about 13 million Americans had PTSD.
- Women are more likely to develop PTSD than men. About 8 of every 100 women (or 8%) and 4 of every 100 men (or 4%) will have PTSD at some point in their life.
- Veterans are more likely to have PTSD than civilians.
For this reason, we proudly offer trauma-informed treatment and PTSD treatment for veterans Texas can rely on.
EXTENSIVE AND TAILORED PSYCHOTHERAPY DURING BEZNO REHAB IN SAN ANTONIO
Beyond initial benzodiazepine detox treatment, we also firmly grasp that addiction is a highly behavioral condition. Physical dependence and withdrawal may be easier to uproot than deep-seated behavioral conditioning. This is what makes psychotherapy a staple in addiction treatment and an invaluable asset.
For this reason, our treatment programs employ extensive psychotherapy, following established and evidence-backed methods:
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT); the golden standard of behavioral therapy, CBT is an invaluable therapeutic asset. Across many addiction types, CBT can augment pharmacotherapy to achieve better outcomes.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); a type of CBT that has become a standalone therapy method, DBT is also commonly useful. It sees use both across different addiction types and for treating PTSD in particular.
Depending on the individual case and your unique needs, we may also explore other means of PTSD treatment. Such tailored methods may include Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and other psychotherapy types which may best suit your case.
WIDE INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR OUR BENZO DETOX IN TEXAS
And finally, we keenly understand how discouraging and prohibitive rehab costs can be. Insurance coverage can also often feel murky, and providers may not be entirely clear about it upfront. For this reason, at Alamo Behavioral Health, we accept most major insurance plans, including:
Of course, your exact coverage may vary depending on your plan and other factors. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you contact our representatives to explore your options thoroughly. Our teams are available 24/7 and will be more than happy to help you.
ALAMO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IS HERE FOR YOU
If you or your loved ones are seeking Benzo addiction treatment in Texas or beyond, please know that you’re not alone. Addiction to many prescription drugs is not uncommon, nor does it deserve social stigma. It’s a condition to overcome, and seeking help is the gift you owe yourself.
If you’re ready to explore your treatment options, Alamo Behavioral Health is here for you. Contact us today and get started on a journey to recovery with our Benzo detox in Texas.
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