According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), over 40 million adults in America suffer from an anxiety disorder.[1] One of the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety is benzodiazepines and many Americans take these substances daily.
Benzodiazepines are a class of drugs that work as depressants, which means they slow down messages in the body. This is how they are helpful for individuals who suffer from anxiety. However, the way they interact with certain neurotransmitters in the brain also makes them highly addictive and habit-forming.
Because benzodiazepines are habit-forming, many people who abuse these drugs end up suffering from a substance use disorder. Benzodiazepine rehab centers in New Jersey can help individuals detox safely and overcome their addictions.
Benzo Detox
The first step in treating benzodiazepine addiction is medical detox. When someone is addicted to benzos, their body becomes accustomed to the presence of it in their system, so if they attempt to abruptly stop using the drug, they will experience symptoms of withdrawal.
Symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal include:
- Nausea
- Panic attacks
- Tremors
- Anxiety
- Excessive sweating
- Headaches
- Heart palpitations
- Muscle pain
- Seizures
Because benzodiazepine withdrawal includes symptoms such as heart palpitations and seizures, attempting to detox at home can become extremely dangerous. This is why it is so important for individuals to attend a medical detox program.
Symptom Management
Symptoms of benzodiazepine withdrawal can be extremely painful and even dangerous if they are left untreated. Thankfully, medical detox programs provide patients with medications to manage their symptoms and cravings. The most popular manner of symptom management is the tapering process.
When someone is tapered off of benzodiazepines, this means that they are slowly given lower doses of the drug over time. Doing this prevents them from experiencing the severe symptoms of withdrawal and keeps them safe throughout the entire detox process.
24-Hour Monitoring
In addition to managing the symptoms of withdrawal with medications, patients’ vital signs will be monitored regularly. Because benzodiazepine withdrawal can cause severe symptoms like seizures, vital signs need to be monitored for any abnormalities. If something comes back abnormal, the patient will be promptly treated so medical emergenc
Inpatient Rehab for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Once a patient completes medical detox, they will begin inpatient treatment. During inpatient treatment, patients will be required to reside at the facility. This prevents them from becoming distracted, being triggered by people, places, or things that remind them of their addiction or having the urge to hang out with old friends that they used drugs with. Additionally, residential provides them with a safe, supportive space to recover from benzodiazepine addiction.
Within an inpatient addiction treatment program, patients are treated through evidence-based practices. In other words, the recovery techniques that are used have been proven effective in treating substance use disorders. Some of the evidence-based practices that are used include individual therapy, group counseling, peer support, and relapse prevention planning.
 Behavioral Therapy
When it comes to recovering from benzodiazepine addiction, individuals must address the root causes of their substance use disorder. This means attending behavioral therapy sessions.
Types of behavioral therapy used in addiction treatment programs include:[2]
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Contingency management
- Motivational interviewing
- Community reinforcement plus vouchers
- The matrix model
- 12-step facilitation therapy
- Dialectical behavior therapy
- Family therapy
The first form of behavioral therapy that patients will participate in is individual therapy. This form of therapy allows patients to speak one on one with a counselor about their past traumas, history of substance abuse, and any mental health conditions they may suffer from. During individual therapy, the therapist will be able to decide which types of additional therapies the patient would benefit from and create a treatment plan.
In addition to individual therapy, patients will participate in group counseling sessions. Some patients may engage in general substance abuse group counseling, while others may attend specialized forms of group therapy that are specific to an issue they face. Examples of specialized therapy groups include trauma-informed therapy, gender-specific therapy, and therapy groups for specific types of mental health conditions like anxiety or bipolar disorder.
Group counseling sessions provide patients with the peer support and camaraderie they need to recover from the isolation and loneliness that addiction can cause.
Relapse Prevention Planning
Before a patient leaves an inpatient program for benzodiazepine addiction in New Jersey, they will participate in relapse prevention planning. This is a recovery maintenance technique that provides patients with the skills and plans they need to maintain long-term sobriety and overcome any challenges they may face.
Relapse prevention planning includes the following services:
- Continued individual and group therapy
- Continued medication management if needed
- Referrals to recovery support groups like AA or NA
- A list of triggers and positive coping mechanisms to use
- A list of sober supports to call in times of need
- Referrals to sober living programs and halfway homes
- Alumni support groups
Outpatient Benzodiazepine Rehab
Inpatient rehab isn’t the only option for benzodiazepine addiction treatment. Patients who can’t take time away from work, family, or school, or those who can’t go to inpatient rehab for other reasons, can benefit from an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment program. Outpatient rehab can also support people who require continued care after inpatient treatment.
Outpatient benzo rehab options include:
- Partial care (PC)
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
- Outpatient Program (OP)
Speak with an addiction specialist to find out which level of care is right for you.
Finding Help for Benzodiazepine Addiction in New Jersey
Benzodiazepine addiction is a condition that can cause significant disruption to a person’s daily life. If you or a loved one struggle with a benzodiazepine use disorder, it’s time to seek help before it’s too late. A benzodiazepine rehab center in New Jersey can teach you how to live a life without the use of substances.
Contact Moving Mountains Recovery Center today to start your recovery today.
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