Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem in the United States, with 16 million Americans over the age of 12 abusing prescriptions in a given year.[1] There are many different types of habit-forming prescription drugs out there, but one of the most common ones is known as Valium. Valium is the brand name for a benzodiazepine drug called diazepam.
Benzodiazepine drugs like diazepam are primarily prescribed to treat seizure disorders, anxiety conditions, and insomnia. While diazepam is exceptionally efficient in treating these medical issues, this medication is highly addictive. Despite the risks of dependency, Valium is still commonly prescribed today.
A substance use disorder resulting from taking Valium can lead to an array of consequences, from financial issues and relationship problems to severe health concerns. If you or a loved one are struggling with Valium addiction, seeking professional treatment can help.
The Signs of Valium Addiction
Abusing Valium long-term puts you at a high risk of developing an addiction. Taking the medication, even as prescribed, can lead to the development of tolerance over time, causing you to need to take higher doses to achieve the desired effects.
Most prescribing doctors won’t increase your dosage after a certain point. When some people stop receiving the benefits from Valium at their prescribed dosage, they begin to increase the amount they take without receiving permission from their doctor. This is one of the first signs of benzodiazepine addiction.
Other signs of Valium abuse addiction include:
- Memory problems
- Slow reflexes
- Nausea
- Dilated pupils
- Cravings for more Valium
- Going to extreme lengths to obtain more Valium (i.e. doctor shopping or buying them off of the street)
- Slurred speech
- Difficulty concentrating
- Symptoms of withdrawal when you cannot take the drug
One of the main risks of Valium addiction is overdose. When you have to continually increase the amount of the drug you are taking, you increase your risk of overdose. Benzodiazepine overdose is potentially life-threatening and requires immediate medical attention.
How is Valium Addiction Treated in New Jersey?
Long-term Valium abuse and addiction can result in serious mental and physical health conditions. Fatal overdoses are a serious risk, making it imperative that you seek professional addiction treatment before it’s too late. While attending a drug rehab can be scary, understanding how the process works can take away some of your fears.
Medical Detox
The first step in recovery from Valium addiction is medical detox. When you are addicted to Valium, your body becomes accustomed to the presence of the substance. If the drug is suddenly removed from your body, you will develop symptoms of withdrawal.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be extremely dangerous if you do not have medical treatment. The severity of your withdrawal symptoms will depend on how long and how often you were causing Valium.
The mild symptoms of diazepam withdrawal may include:[2]
- Tremors
- Abdominal and muscle cramps
- Vomiting
- Excessive sweating
- Headaches
- Extreme anxiety and tension
- Restlessness
- Confusion
- Irritability
Severe symptoms of Valium withdrawal include:[2]
- Derealization
- Depersonalization
- Hyperacusis
- Numbness and tingling of extremities
- Hypersensitivity to light, sound, and physical contact
- Hallucinations
- Epileptic seizures
If left untreated, the symptoms of Valium withdrawal can result in life-threatening medical emergencies. Medical detox centers will monitor your vitals, provide psychological support, and prescribe medications to soothe the symptoms of withdrawal and prevent emergencies from occurring. Your doctor may slowly reduce your dose of Valium each day to slowly wean your body off of the medication.
Behavioral Therapy
Once you have detoxed, you can begin healing from the emotional and psychological aspects of Valium addiction. Most of the time, addiction occurs because of unresolved issues from your past that you are attempting to self-medicate. This is why behavioral therapy is an integral aspect of Valium addiction treatment in New Jersey.
Types of therapy used include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR)
- Contingency management (CM)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- 12-step facilitation therapy
- Group counseling
- Family behavior therapy
- Trauma-informed therapy
The goal of behavioral therapy is to help you learn how to recognize negative patterns of thought, identify triggers, and learn how to cope with emotions. Doing so will prevent you from feeling the need to self-medicate with drugs and alcohol. Behavioral therapy also helps those with unresolved trauma or untreated mental illnesses recover from those issues, which often contribute to the development of addiction.
Relapse Prevention Planning
Before you complete a benzodiazepine addiction treatment program in New Jersey you will undergo relapse prevention planning. This is a process that teaches you how to identify and address triggers for substance abuse, allowing you to properly cope with uncomfortable situations without feeling the need to pick up a drink or a drug.
Important aspects of a relapse prevention plan include:
- List of triggers for substance abuse
- Coping mechanisms to use when you are feeling triggered (i.e. exercise, meditation, mindfulness techniques)
- Sober friends that you can call when times get tough
- Regular attendance to therapy and/or group counseling
- Regular attendance to self-help support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or SMART Recovery
- Continued medication management as needed
Find Treatment for Valium Addiction in New Jersey Today
If you or a loved one suffer from Valium addiction, help is available. Dealing with an addiction of any kind can take a toll on your life, relationships, finances, and overall health. Additionally, the risks of long-term Valium abuse include life-threatening emergencies like fatal overdoses.
Prevent yourself from experiencing the consequences of long-term Valium addiction by seeking help from a professional addiction treatment program. At Moving Mountains Recovery, we use a holistic approach to help you heal from the root causes of your addiction, renew your passion for life, and prevent relapse in the future. Get started today by calling and speaking with one of our qualified admissions counselors.
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