Symptoms of Prescription Pill Abuse: Benzodiazapine
Benzodiazepines are a medication prescribed for a wide range of medical conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, seizures, muscle relaxation, and even alcohol withdrawal. While Benzodiazepines can be a helpful tool in treating these conditions, they are also dangerous and highly addictive. If you are suspecting that you or someone you love might be addicted to Benzodiazepines, keep reading for all the symptoms of dangerous prescription drug abuse so that you can get help before it is too late.
Prescription Pill Abuse Fast Facts
Benzodiazepines are also known by their drug names, such as:
- Valium
- Xanax
- Ativan
- Rivotril
- Klonopin
Since Benzodiazepines are sedative, common side effects are:
- Drowsiness
- Unsteadiness
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech
- Muscle weakness
Prescription Pill Abuse Statistics
- Every day in the US, 2,500 youth (12 to 17) abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time.
- Prescription drug abuse, while most prevalent in the US, is a problem in many areas around the world including Europe, Southern Africa, and South Asia. In the US alone, more than 15 million people abuse prescription drugs, more than the combined number who reported abusing cocaine, hallucinogens, inhalants, and heroin.
- Prescription drug abuse causes the largest percentage of deaths from drug overdosing. Of the 22,400 drug overdose deaths in the US in 2005, opioid painkillers were the most commonly found drug, accounting for 38.2% of these deaths.
- Depressants, opioids and antidepressants are responsible for more overdose deaths (45%) than cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and amphetamines (39%) combined.
- By survey, almost 50% of teens believe that prescription drugs are much safer than illegal street drugs—60% to 70% say that home medicine cabinets are their source of drugs.
Physical Symptoms of Benzodiazapine Prescription Pill Abuse
One of the ways you can tell that your loved one is addicted to dangerous prescription drugs, such as Benzodiazapines, is by the physical symptoms. In addition, if you have noticed any of these physical changes within yourself, or if loved ones are expressing concern over the below physical changes to you, it is likely that you have become addicted and should seek help.
- Muscle weakness
- Headache
- Nausea
- Increased salivation
- Tremors
- Insomnia
- Drowsiness
- Unsteadiness
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Fainting
- Changes to sex drive or performance
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Quick weight loss or quick weight gain
Changes in Hygiene
One of the biggest physical symptoms of prescription pill abuse is changes in hygiene. If your loved one suddenly has a disheveled appearance, or if you are caring less and less about your outward appearance, this should be seen as a red flag.
As addiction takes over, priorities change. This even includes basic personal hygiene is put lower on the priority list over prescription pill abuse and it’s symptoms. Feeling too drowsy, feeling too hungover, or feeling too dope sick can make individuals not care as much about how they look on the outside.
Behavioral Symptoms of Benzodiazapine Prescription Pill Abuse
- Isolation. This is the most major of all behavioral symptoms of not only prescription pill abuse, but any type of addiction. If you or your loved one is suddenly starting to withdraw from seeing or speaking to family friends in an unusual way, see this as a dangerous sign.
- Uncharacteristic behaviors. Maxing out credit cards, asking to borrow money frequently, being arrested, stealing, staying out too late, or not coming home at all are all signs that addiction has clouded regular judgment. This can also include mood swings and other changes that are not usually “like” the person.
- Drug-seeking behavior. This includes anxiety of being without the drug, excuses made for keeping up with the drug past what is appropriate, having multiple doctors, holding multiple prescriptions, visiting multiple pharmacies, and spending a lot of time on seeking drugs, being on drugs, or recovering from drugs.
About Seasons in Malibu
Addiction to dangerous prescription drugs is extremely common, and if you need help, now is the perfect time to get it. Whether the treatment is for yourself or for a loved one, please reach out to our admissions office. They can walk you through every step of the process and help you with all logistics.
At Seasons In Malibu, we start from the premise that the treatment that is currently available to active addicts, even the supposedly high-end variety, is woefully inadequate, and our mission is to offer something better. Here we believe strongly in understanding your underlying issues and figuring out what’s motivating you to use drugs, and in order to accomplish that goal we offer more individual therapy sessions in 30 days than any other drug rehabilitation or alcohol rehab centers in the country.
It is a priority for us that our life-changing drug and alcohol treatment be available to the people who need it. We are fully familiar with how much strength and courage it takes to pick up the phone and ask for help. Our counselors are invested in your well-being and are ready around-the-clock to guide you or a trusted friend or family member through the initial steps of overcoming drug or alcohol addiction.
With our superior team of clinicians, we are able to succinctly pinpoint those areas of focus which will give the client the most advanced opportunity for success. Our approach towards healing is collaborative, comprehensive and committed.
For more information, visit seasonsmalibu.com