What Are Benzodiazepine?
Benzodiazepines, or benzos, are usually prescribed to address genuine psychological issues such as anxiety, insomnia and panic disorder during the acute phase. While it is recommended that patients switch to less addictive medications and therapy after a short period of stabilization, oftentimes it does not occur. This class of medications include short-acting benzos such as Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan or Valium. It is important to note that benzodiazepines are also available on the street supplied by the same cartels that manufacture and distribute other drugs.
Women tend to be prescribed these medications two- to three times more than men and abuse it at greater rates. While nearly half of the men who abuse benzos do so to cope, men are twice as likely (nearly 40%) than women to abuse benzos to spike the high from other substances. Prevalence of benzo abuse among men and women, however, is almost the same. 97% of men and women report co-abuse of benzodiazepines with other substances.
Most times, benzos are prescribed by physicians, and it is therefore perceived to be safe. While benzos do have legitimate uses, longer-term use can make a person benzo dependent. Tolerance will build and so will dependence. It will then affect your work, family, and life. When you become dependent on benzos or addicted to it, it not only affects you physically, but you may also begin to experience psychological issues.
Dependence on benzos can lead to severe withdrawal when attempts are made to stop benzo use. Benzo withdrawal can also be dangerous, as it can lead to seizures, stroke or even death. So, treatment for benzo dependence and benzol addiction should always take place under medical supervision. Like alcohol withdrawal, benzo withdrawal can be dangerous and quitting benzos has to be done only under medical supervision.
Outpatient Benzo Detox
Outpatient benzo detox is not new, but inpatient benzo detox and rehab has been the traditional way to perform benzo detox due to the wrong belief that addiction is a behavioral problem or moral failure. Outpatient benzo detox in New Jersey is a more recent trend, based on the belief that addiction is a disease and not a behavioral issue. In the past, people had no other option but to book themselves or their family members into rehab, as addiction was viewed as a behavioral problem.
Now, however, an increasing number of individuals are preferring outpatient benzo detox. The reasons are simple: firstly, outcomes are better because it integrates the living environment into treatment rather than isolating from it; secondly it is minimally disruptive to daily life and allows individuals to be largely functional in their home environment and work life. Also, the introduction of various medication options to effectively treat withdrawal symptoms, cravings and risk of seizures/stroke makes it easier to stay abstinent in the home environment than even a decade ago. It is important to note that the benzo detox medication protocols at CNT’s outpatient detox program in NJ is the same as inpatient treatment.
Addiction is a chronic brain disease but it carries stigma – and inpatient addiction treatment for benzos adds to the stigma by treating addiction as a behavioral problem or moral failure. Outpatient Detox in New Jersey aligns treatment for addiction with the disease model by making the most acute level of addiction treatment accessible on an outpatient basis. Afterall, treatment for other chronic disease like diabetes, hypertension or even contagious HIV does not take place in an inpatient setting. So why single out addiction alone and attach stigma to it?
Understanding Benzo Withdrawal
These are the set of symptoms, physical and psychological, an individual experiences when they stop alcohol use abruptly after a long stint of benzo dependence. Benzosl, like most other drugs, is a central nervous system suppressant affecting neurotransmitters in the brain. While it helps you relax and be at ease, excessive benzo abuse increases tolerance and makes you chemically dependent on benzodiazepines.
Here’s how benzo dependence alters your brain function: The brain usually releases a certain amount of the pleasure neurotransmitter, dopamine in response to normal life stimuli such as hobbies, food or sex, sending pleasure waves through a person. Benzos or other drugs, artificially stimulate a surge of dopamine and “take over” the brain! Consequently, the brain gradually loses its ability to respond optimally to regular life stimuli, instead waiting for stimulus from benzos, alcohol or other drugs. This change in the brain is the reason addiction is called a disease, and not regardged as a behavioral issue or moral failure. And, addiction is a chronic disease because the brain does not return back to functioning normally immediately after stopping benzo, alcohol or other drug abuse. It takes years! And during that time individuals suffering from benzo addiction experience subnormal moods that make them vulnerable to a relapse as they crave a hit of dopamine that will make them feel normal.
Benzo Withdrawal Can Lead to Seizures or Even Stroke
- Difficulty concentrating
- Anxiety
- Hand tremors or shake
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Sweating
- Muscle pain
- Palpitations
- Panic attack
However, for heavy abusers, the issues could be much more serious and, sometimes, life-threatening. Hallucinations could occur about 12 to 24 hours after the last use. Seizures are also a possibility within 48 hours, or 2 days.
MAT for Benzo Withdrawal
With the advent of new medications, medication assisted treatment for benzo dependence and benzo withdrawal is possible. While a Librium protocol is the standard to address benzo withdrawal and benzo dependence, an Ativan protocol may be initiated in the event that the liver is compromised. While Librium is also a benzodiazepine, it is a long-acting benzo, as opposed to Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin or Valium which are short-acting (delivers a quick high). There are also medications available to mitigate the risk of seizures and stroke through the judicious use of Keppra.
Men Abuse Benzos to Spike a High and to Cope
While women are more likely to be prescribed benzodiazepines, men show higher rates of misuse. Approximately 40.6% of men in a study reported a lifetime history of benzodiazepine misuse.
Men often abuse benzodiazepines in conjunction with other substances:
- 54.2% use benzodiazepines with opioids
- 24.7% combine them with alcohol
- 1 in 5 alcohol abusers also misuse benzodiazepines
Apart from getting a benzo high, men abuse benzos in order to spike a high from other substances, to cope and manage withdrawal symptoms from other substances.
Women Abuse Benzos as They are Prescribed More
Women are frequently diagnosed with anxiety disorders which are common indications for benzodiazepine prescriptions. Women are more likely to misuse benzos for coping. Although unproven, there is some indication that hormonal changes in women may make benzos more addictive then in men. Gender-specific treatment approaches may be beneficial as women tend to have different motivations for misuse and may experience more intense cravings.
The Secret of Treating Women Addicted to Benzos
Connection is the secret sauce and, often, the antidote to addiction. Hearing from and communicating with other women in the same situation accelerates the recovery process for women. Apart from connecting with treatment providers, and physical self-help groups such as AA, online groups such as Sober Sis, Luckiest Club and Sober Mom Squad offer ways to connect with women in recovery online. Seeing other women – teachers, mothers, doctors, writers – grappling with their dependence helps people realize that they are not alone.