About Benzo Addiction

Learn More About Benzo Addiction

Benzodiazepines is a term that describes a category of psychoactive substances that act as central nervous system depressants and which are often prescribed to treat symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and insomnia. Benzodiazepines, which are often referred to as benzos, are also used to alleviate muscle pain and prevent seizures. The World Health Organization recommends benzodiazepines as a front-line medication to combat withdrawal symptoms, such as discomfort, seizures, and delirium, in patients who are undergoing medically supervised alcohol detox. Commonly prescribed medications that contain benzodiazepines include Valium, Klonopin, Ativan, and Xanax.

Benzos create a sense of sedation and relaxation by enhancing the effectiveness of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid, or GABA, which controls the excitability of neurons within the central nervous system. While these effects can be of significant value in medical settings, they also make benzos an enticing choice for individuals who intend to abuse them for purposes of self-medication or to achieve a recreational high. Among recreational substance abusers, benzos are often used to counterbalance the negative side effects of stimulants, such as amphetamines and cocaine.

Regardless of the reasons that a person begins to misuse benzodiazepines, the results can be dangerous and even deadly. Dependence upon benzos is a risk even for people who are using these substances under the supervision of a qualified medical professional, and severe withdrawal symptoms can make it difficult for a person to stop abusing benzos without professional help. Thankfully, benzo dependence can be effectively treated, and individuals who were once trapped in a downward spiral of benzo abuse and addiction can live drug-free lives.

Statistics

Benzo Addiction Statistics

More than 50 million prescriptions for benzodiazepine medications are written every year in the United States, and about one of every 20 adults in the U.S. has used a benzodiazepine in the past month.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NS-DUH), 2.3 percent of high school students between the ages of 14 and 17 have abused a benzo at least once in their lives, and just below 1.5 percent have done so in the past 12 months. Past-year benzo abuse decreased from 1.9 percent to 1.4 percent between 2011 and 2013, while lifetime use remained at a consistent 2.3 percent over the same period of time.

The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reports that more than one-third of all drug-related visits to emergency rooms and urgent care facilities are related to benzo abuse. In many cases, benzo abuse increases the damage that is caused by another abused substance. For example, between 1996 and 2006, more than 50 percent of people who died from opioid overdose also had traces of benzos in their system at their time of death. From 1994 to 2004, annual benzo-related admissions to addiction treatment more than doubled, increasing from 3,257 to 7,827.

Causes & Risks

Causes and Risk Factors for Benzo Addiction

As is the case with other forms of substance abuse and addiction, the likelihood that a person will abuse and become dependent upon benzodiazepines can be influenced by a number of genetic and environmental factors.

Genetic: Having a parent or sibling who developed a substance use disorder increases the likelihood that a person will also have a drug problem. Also, people whose parents and/or siblings suffer from mental illness have a similarly increased risk for addiction. Because benzos are used to treat mental health issues, such as anxiety disorders, people who are genetically predisposed to these conditions will also be at increased risk for abusing these medications.

Environmental: Substance abuse and mental illness within a family can also be environmental influences on the development of a substance use disorder. Children who grow up in households where the misuse of benzo-based medications is common are more likely to engage in similar behaviors than are people who were raised in drug-free environments. Also, individuals who live in communities where substance abuse occurs frequently, or who work in high-stress jobs, may be more likely to seek relief via substance abuse.

Risk Factors:

Being female
Aging (benzo abuse risk factors increase with age)
Family history of substance use disorders and/or mental illness
Personal history of prior substance abuse and/or mental illness
Poverty
Poor coping skills
Associating with individuals who abuse drugs

Signs & Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms of Benzo Addiction

People who have been abusing benzodiazepines or other prescription medications may show a range of symptoms depending upon the specific benzo they are abusing, the amount of time they have been engaging in this behavior, and their personal history. The following are among the signs that may indicate that a person has been abusing a benzodiazepine:

Behavioral symptoms:

Visiting a variety doctors in an attempt to get multiple prescriptions
Asking to borrow medications that have been prescribed to someone else
Stealing medication that has been prescribed to someone else
Using larger-than-directed amounts of a prescribed medications
Using medications to deal with stress
Withdrawing from family and friends
Lying or being otherwise deceptive about medication use

Physical symptoms:

Coordination problems
Impaired motor skills
Blurry vision
Slurred speech
Shallow or irregular breathing
Respiratory infections
Twitches and tremors

Cognitive symptoms:

Poor judgment
Retrograde amnesia
Nightmares
Confusion
Delayed reaction time
Lowered inhibitions

Psychosocial symptoms:

Anxiety
Paranoia
Depression
Mood swings
Irritability and hostility

Effects

Effects of Benzo Addiction

Benzodiazepine abuse is associated with several unpleasant health effects, including the following:

Confusion and disorientation
Memory problems
Family conflict
Strained interpersonal relationships
Declining performance at work or in school
Insomnia
Headaches
Social withdrawal and isolation
Suicidal ideation and self-harm
Muscle weakness and/or spasms

Co-Occurring Disorders

Benzo Abuse & Co-Occurring Disorders

The following disorders may also be present in people who have developed a substance use disorder related to benzodiazepine abuse:

Anxiety disorders
Depressive disorders
Bipolar disorder
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Schizoaffective disorder
Other substance use disorders

Withdrawal

Effects of Benzo Withdrawal & Overdose

Effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal: When a person attempts to stop using benzos after a period of prolonged abuse, he or she will likely experience a number of painful withdrawal symptoms. The following are among the common symptoms that are associated with benzo withdrawal:

Strong cravings for benzos
Increased heart rate
Nausea
Vomiting
Increased sensitivity to touch, sound, and/or light
Hallucinations
Hot and cold flashes
Ringing in the ears
Double vision
Depression
Agitation
Suicidal ideation

Effects of benzodiazepine overdose: People who abuse benzos, especially those who do so in combination with other drugs, are at increased risk for overdosing. Benzo overdose, which may be indicated by the following symptoms, can be fatal: