Benzodiazepine Addiction & Abuse

Benzodiazepines, called “benzos” for brevity, are pharmaceutical drugs used to treat a broad range of psychological disorders. Notably anxiety, panic attacks, and seizures.

Benzos are most often consumed in pill or tablet form, though they can be administered intravenously or ground up and snorted.

Though benzodiazepine is a legal drug when prescribed by a doctor, benzodiazepine abuse is common, and a large underground market exists for the illegal distribution and consumption of the drug. It is a schedule IV drug under the Controlled Substances Act.

Drugs in this category must meet the following criteria:

The most common benzodiazepines are:

Despite benzodiazepine’s legitimate medical applications, it is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. If you or your loved one is struggling with benzodiazepine abuse, you are encouraged to seek professional help immediately.

Benzodiazepine work by enhancing the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Put simply, it slows or “calms down” excitable neurons, as well as regulates muscle tone. For patients suffering from severe anxiety, panic attacks, or seizures, benzodiazepine reduces or eliminates their symptoms. Abusing benzodiazepine gives users a euphoric “high” and may sedate them.

Any use of benzodiazepines without a prescription or outside of a doctor’s specific instructions is considered abuse. Abusing benzodiazepine can lead to an overdose that results in coma, seizures, or even death.

People using benzos without a legitimate medical need may experience the following common effects:

Prolonged benzodiazepine abuse may lead to long-term physical and psychological damage, as well as addiction.

Though benzodiazepine overdose is rarely fatal on its own, especially after hospitalization. If taken in massive quantities or combined with high doses of other drugs like alcohol, barbiturates, or opioids, it may induce a coma or be fatal.

Users may experience an acute overdose followed by rapidly developing symptoms including:

When taken in copious amounts, benzodiazepines may slow the users breathing and heart rate until stopped completely, resulting in a fatal overdose. All benzo abusers are at risk of an overdose whether fatal or non-fatal. Therefore, it is critical that you seek professional help immediately if you or a loved one is struggling with benzo abuse.

Abusing benzodiazepine may eventually progress to addiction. It is possible to become addicted to benzos, even while using them under the care of a physician. If you or a loved one is prescribed benzodiazepine by your doctor, it is important that you take the medication in strict compliance with your physician’s specific instructions to lower the risk of developing an addiction, though even at recommended doses users may still develop a physical or mental dependency.

Over time, benzodiazepine can change the neurochemistry of the brain, build up in the user’s body, and result in physical or psychological dependency. Recognizing benzodiazepine addiction can be extremely difficult, especially when you or your loved one are taking it under a physician’s care. Some common signs of benzodiazepine addiction may include:

Benzos are sold under many different names and can be difficult to identify. Here is a full list of names that you may find on pill bottles with generic names and associated brand names:

From 2002 to 2015 there was a 4.3-fold increase in deaths from overdoses involving Benzodiazepine

Benzodiazepine abuse accounts for 35% of all drug-related hospital visits

95% of Benzodiazepine related emergency room visits also involve alcohol

Prescription drug abuse accounts for nearly 60% of fatal drug overdoses

Benzodiazepine addiction can be very difficult to overcome, but with proper professional treatment, you or your loved one can recover. There are many treatment options for those suffering from benzodiazepine addiction depending on your location, resources, health, and circumstances. Click here (Riverside) for more information about benzodiazepine abuse, addiction, and treatment and begin your journey toward a healthy, drug-free life.