What is Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Benzodiazepines, or “benzos”, are a type of drug that affects the central nervous system. They are prescription drugs that may be used to treat a range of issues. Prescribed benzodiazepines can help with mental disorders including anxiety and severe insomnia, while it is also a medical treatment option for the likes of seizure disorders and alcohol withdrawal.
Unfortunately, these drugs can also be used recreationally – and that’s what can lead to substance abuse issues. Benzodiazepine misuse is both highly dangerous and disconcerting. As benzos are designed to affect the brain by blocking nerve signals and decrease the central nervous system’s activity, those that abuse them face a range of physical and mental health symptoms.
There are many types of benzodiazepines. Although they all have similar effects on the brain, they vary in terms of strength and how long they last. This is why some benzodiazepine drugs work better for certain conditions versus others. It also means certain benzos are more detrimental when abused.
For those in the mental health community, benzos abuse or addiction is described as hypnotic, sedative, or anxiolytic use disorder. This term was coined by the book, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Benzo Addiction Treatment with Topsail Addiction Treatment
Topsail offers a range of substance abuse treatment and rehabilitation programs. These integrate a range of treatments, therapies, and education programming, along with follow-up care after the main phase of treatment. This approach is followed with our benzodiazepine addiction treatment.
Our benzo addiction treatment begins with a thorough assessment conducted by an addiction treatment professional. After this, there are several paths to take with treatment for benzo addiction.
Overview of Topsail's Benzo Treatment Programs
Full-Day treatment programs, sometimes called “partial hospitalization programs” or “PHP,” is the highest level of drug and alcohol treatment in an outpatient setting. Consisting of 5 to 6-hour sessions 5 days a week, the intensive Day program at Topsail Addiction Treatment has been created to help patients with significant addiction, and substance abuse issues. It is well suited for individuals who are either beginning their rehab journey or as a transition for people who have recently completed inpatient addiction treatment (PHP is usually the next step after detox and/or residential treatment is complete).
An intensive outpatient program, or IOP, is an immersive treatment program that helps individuals with substance abuse and addiction problems while they live at home. IOPs are programs designed so the patient can live in their own residence or a sober living home and take part in an immersive program of continuing treatment at the facility
Weekly Outpatient addiction treatment (OP) tends to be more flexible and less restrictive than inpatient programs. Outpatient recovery programs usually require a specific number of hours and days per week spent visiting a local treatment center.
During these treatment sessions, patients will focus on drug abuse education, individual and group counseling, and learning coping strategies for living with addiction. Outpatient rehab can be an excellent standalone option or part of a long-term treatment program. Outpatient addiction treatment can last three to six months — something similar to inpatient treatment — or for longer if required.
