Benzodiazepine - Treatment for Habitual Users

Treatment for Habitual Users

The potential for addiction to benzodiazepines is very real. That potential is even greater among certain segments of the population, especially those undergoing treatment for substance abuse. "Among psychiatric patients," wrote Sattar and Bhatia, "substance abusers are most likely to abuse benzodiazepines and become addicted to them." Multiple addictions are complicated. Users should seek professional help when trying to stop using the drug.

The withdrawal process can take weeks or even months and requires a combination of physical and psychological care. Benzodiazepine abusers must undergo the process of detoxification under strict medical supervision. During this time, the dosage of the drug is lowered gradually, and eventually use is phased out completely. Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps provide habitual users with the support they need to kick their habit. This type of psychotherapy focuses on increasing a patient's skills for coping with the everyday stresses in life.

Unwanted Side Effects

Interesting evidence has surfaced about the effects of benzodiazepines on some patients. Although such drugs are routinely prescribed to treat the anxiety that comes with depression, benzodiazepines—especially when taken in high doses—may actually increase the risk of depression. This theory was reinforced in 2004, when a study was conducted on soldiers returning home from war. War, terrorist attacks, and other life-threatening events can trigger post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in people who have experienced these events firsthand. A Harvard Medical School doctor noted in Newsweek that "anxiety-muting benzodiazepines such as lorazepam and clonazepam may actually raise the risk of chronic PTSD if taken continuously." The reasons for this unwanted side effect were still being studied in 2005.