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, it’s important to learn about all the symptoms of dangerous prescription drug abuse so that you can get benzo addiction treatment before it’s 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 U.S., 2,500 youth (12 to 17) abuse a prescription pain reliever for the first time.
- Prescription drug abuse, while most prevalent in the U.S., is a problem in many areas around the world including Europe, Southern Africa, and South Asia. In the U.S. 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 U.S. 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 Benzodiazepine Prescription Pill Abuse
One of the ways you can tell that your loved one is addicted to dangerous prescription drugs, such as Benzodiazepines, 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 Benzodiazepine 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.
Benzo Addiction Treatment at 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 addicted individuals, 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.
Benzo addiction treatment at Seasons in Malibu helps individuals cope with and recover from the physical, psychological, and behavioral effects of addiction. Treatment typically involves an individualized plan that combines talk therapy, medication management, lifestyle changes, and ongoing support. The goal of treatment is to help individuals develop healthier coping strategies and ultimately achieve long-term recovery from benzo dependence.
Get the Help You Need Today
It’s 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 toward healing is collaborative, comprehensive and committed.
Take the first step in the recovery process—call us today at 424.235.2009 or reach out online.
