Valium Abuse and Treatment
Understanding Valium
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 18% of the U.S. adult population experiences some form of anxiety disorder.
Benzodiazepines are antidepressant drugs that doctors often prescribe to treat a plethora of psychological or physical stresses, including anxiety disorders.
Doctors often prescribe benzodiazepines to patients with anxiety or other similar disorders because of their proven effectiveness.
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Institute (NCBI) “Stimulation of Benzodiazepine Receptor Binding by Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid” study,
Immediate Placement in Rehab for Valium Abuse
Benzodiazepines like Valium Treat a Range of Conditions
Benzodiazepines work by stimulating the brain to secrete a neurotransmitter known as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Benzodiazepines like Valium push the brain into producing GABA, which removes the impulse to react with panic or anxiety to stressful situations.
Valium (also known as diazepam) is a benzodiazepine.
In addition to their anti-anxiety properties, drugs such as Valium can also treat convulsions and seizures as well as help relax muscles.
The benzodiazepines can treat a range of conditions including panic disorder, major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder, among others.
You can feel valium’s effects very quickly, which is one reason why it is a very widely taken medication.
Patients prescribed Valium can expect a healthy prescribed dosage from two milligram tablets to ten milligram tablets.
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Valium Abuse
According to , “Every day, more than 115 Americans die after overdosing on opioids.
However, between 1996 and 2013, the number of adults who filled a benzodiazepine prescription increased by 67%, from 8.1 million to 13.5 million.”
Mirroring these numbers, we continue to see an increasing number of patients come to us with issues with valium abuse and addiction. Valium addiction symptoms will eventually emerge if you are abusing this benzodiazepine drug.
Specifically, if you are taking a higher dose of Valium than prescribed or taking it more frequently than suggested. Some of the most common physical, psychological and behavioral signs that you or a loved one may be addicted to valium are:
- Fatigue
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
- Poor reflexes
- Hypotension
- Ataxia
- Hypotonia
- Respiratory depression
- Coma or death
Withdrawal from Valium brings with it its own effects of which you should be aware. Withdrawing from this opioid can be particularly dangerous. We suggest that if you are abusing Valium you undergo a medically supervised detox process with us. Doing so will benefit your safety by helping to ensure that severe withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures, do not occur.
Valium and Mental Illness
While doctors will initially prescribe Valium to help treat a variety of mental illnesses including anxiety and insomnia, valium abuse and withdrawal can be even more damaging to your mental health. If you become addicted to or abuse Valium too heavily, it could not only exacerbate current mental illnesses you are trying to combat, but bring about a slew of new problems to your mental state.
The issues you were dealing with that originally drew you to the drug can become severe enough through abuse to drive you back to the drug, even after undergoing detoxification. Coping with these and other withdrawal symptoms and managing cravings is, therefore, a major focus as we manage your Valium addiction.
While we are treating patients with a Valium addiction, we put a great emphasis on examining mental illness or possible mental illness as well. We will typically suggest patients with a Valium or opioid addiction undergo therapy so we can give the most comprehensive care possible.
Specifically, our cognitive behavioral therapy has shown some of the most promising results with Valium addiction, likely due to its effectiveness at helping patients manage:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Other psychiatric effects associated with withdrawal from benzodiazepines.
Treatment for Valium Abuse
1.) Withdrawal
To safely withdraw from Valium, we will slowly taper off your Valium dose. Due to the potential dangers, we will never recommend stopping taking benzodiazepines such as Valium suddenly.
If you have taken Valium for four continuous months or longer it is likely that you will experience withdrawal symptoms when you no longer take the medication. The more Valium that has built up inside your body, the longer it will take to eliminate it. The severity of withdrawal symptoms and length of a Valium withdrawal are dependent on the severity of your drug abuse.
2.) Medically Supervised Valium Detoxification
Detoxing from Valium can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months depending on how large a dose you are used to taking. When you are serious about wanting to stop misusing Valium, our medically supervised detox program will help you come off the drug safely.
Our medically supervised detox helps get you through the worst part of your Valium detox by providing you with around-the-clock medical supervision and support. A detox program is not an addiction cure, however, and we will always recommend further addiction treatment.
3.) Formal Addiction Treatment
Post-detox, we have many treatment options for Valium abuse and addiction. We have found that formal addiction treatment is often the best way for you to fully recover if you have abused Valium for more than six months to come off the drug.
Outpatient Programs
Our outpatient programs allow you to live and work at home, but may not provide enough support for you if you have just detoxed from Valium. Since we understand outpatient care may be the only feasible option for you, we include a counseling component to our outpatient work. At Resurgence Behavioral Health we are 100% prepared to fight for you.
Inpatient Programs
Our inpatient treatment, on the other hand, requires you to live on-site. Because every patient’s background and addiction is unique, we will tailor your program to most quickly begin helping you with your Valium addiction. This is beneficial for a few reasons. Primarily, we provide a safe, supportive and substance-free environment. Our inpatient programs also offer integrated care techniques and a multitude of therapies that we will structure to best work for your scenario.
4.) Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
For many people suffering from a drug addiction, entering a drug treatment program or rehab program is an effective way to detox safely and get clean. Unfortunately, relapse rates are high for most substance addictions, and staying abstinent after leaving a treatment program is a major concern for many patients, even you. Because in general, drug addiction has a high rate of relapse.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)’s “Drug’s Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction,” often more than 50% will experience a relapse of drug addiction. We have found that structured and supportive aftercare is one way to help you avoid such a relapse.
Free Insurance Verification for Valium Abuse Treatment
Payment Information
Do you want treatment but are worried about how you can pay for it? We have a team of financial professionals who provide free insurance verification. We will work with you to determine how to move forward with the treatment in a way that works for you and your financial situation.
Valium Addiction Treatment at Resurgence
At Resurgence Behavioral Health in Orange County, California, we are here to help and support you through finding your truest self while leaving your most destructive self behind.
We understand what it takes to get you through your benzodiazepine withdrawal and the emotional and psychological support you’ll need from us, to become your best self.
Please contact us today with questions or concerns.
