Recent studies from the NIH indicate that an estimated 25.3 million adults have a benzodiazepine prescription and of them, 5.3 million have reported to misuse their benzodiazepines. As increasing numbers of adults are being prescribed benzodiazepines, many people are wondering “Are benzos addictive?”
How Benzos Work
When you take a benzodiazepine, it interacts with your nervous system and your GABA receptors.
The GABA receptors bind to the benzodiazepines which enhances the calming effects of GABA. This process actually makes it more difficult for neurons to send signals which means when you are struggling with high anxiety or insomnia and have a lot of overactive neural activity, benzos can inhibit those neural firings and that communication in your brain, allowing GABA to calm you down.
Benzodiazepines work to induce sleep, reduce muscle spasms, and reduce anxiety by calming the brain circuits that might be hyperactive. Slowing down brain activity and inhibiting nerve signals can produce a feeling of relaxation and calmness.
The mechanism of action behind benzodiazepines works very quickly making it an ideal source of pharmacological treatment for those who are experiencing things like panic attacks or severe insomnia and need a way to calm down immediately.
However, that same quick mechanism of action is what puts users at risk of dependence and addiction.
Are Benzos Addictive?
Yes, benzodiazepines have the potential to be addictive. They work very quickly and in so doing can just as quickly cause a dependence in your brain and body. There is no guarantee that simply using benzos will cause an addiction but misusing benzos like 5.3 million Americans increases the risk of addiction.
At American Detox and Treatment Center, we start with detox for all of our clients. Studies indicate that benzo use is often combined with other drugs or alcohol:
- Fifteen percent of heroin users also have a history of daily benzodiazepine use
- Seventy three percent of heroin users used benzodiazepines weekly
- Between five and ninety percent of methadone users also regularly use benzodiazepines
- Between three and forty one percent of Alcoholics abuse benzodiazepines
That is why we provide individualized care centered on initial detox services to deal with the safe and effective detoxification process no matter the combination of substances a client might be using.
From there, we specialize in residential programs allowing those with a benzo addiction to extricate themselves from their daily life and sources of stress or anxiety and focus exclusively on recovery.
Our goal is to prepare clients for life after treatment and that means connecting to discharge coordinators who ensure that clients have an aftercare plan tailored to their circumstances, arranging referrals for additional resources and programs, and learning how to start anew.
Get Help for Benzo Addiction
Benzodiazepines do have the potential to cause addiction and this addiction risk is increased by those who misuse a prescription. The longer you use any potentially addictive substance, the more likely you are to develop a tolerance and subsequently an addiction which is why it’s important to get help when you notice signs of tolerance or dependence. At American Detox and Treatment Center, we can help.
Contact our team today at 1-877-834-0775 to learn more about treatment for benzo addiction.
FAQs about Benzos and Addiction
Are there side effects to benzos?
Yes, benzodiazepines, through the main mechanism of action that makes them so effective, can also cause drowsiness and sedation. This makes it difficult to do things like operate heavy machinery or drive a vehicle while using benzos.
Long term use of benzos can also lead to tolerance and dependence which is most easily identified by withdrawal symptoms that happen as soon as you stop taking benzos. If this is left unchecked it can lead to addiction.
How many types of benzos are there?
There are four widely prescribed benzodiazepines including:
Alprazolam (Xanax)
Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Diazepam (Valium)
Lorazepam (Ativan)
These four benzodiazepines are some of the most commonly prescribed medications though all of them have similar risks of addiction.
What are benzos prescribed for?
Benzodiazepines are widely prescribed for anxiety and insomnia but can also be prescribed for convulsive disorders, muscle spasms or involuntary movement disorders. Clinically, you can get a prescription for benzodiazepines to treat anxiety disorders including:
OCD
PTSD
Phobias
Panic disorder
Acute anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder
You might also be prescribed benzodiazepines to treat insomnia, convulsive disorders, acute status epilepsy, spastic disorders, agitation associated with psychiatric conditions, or involuntary movement disorders among others.
How many people take benzodiazepines?
According to the APA, an average of 13% of the adult population has taken a benzodiazepine at least once in the last year but only an average of 2% take benzodiazepines daily.
Why are benzos prescribed if they are addictive?
Despite the fact that benzos are addictive, they also work more effectively than most any other options on the market today for things like anxiety disorders. In fact, they have a very impressive record of safety and efficacy. They work immediately which makes them ideal for convulsing, panic attacks, and other medical issues for which they are prescribed but this immediate impact is also what lends itself to the risk of addiction.
Will I become addicted to benzodiazepines if I take them?
While benzodiazepines might be addictive, this doesn’t guarantee that someone who uses benzos appropriately will develop an addiction. There is a risk of building tolerance or dependence, but you can always take breaks and not rely on the medication full time for certain conditions.
It is important that anyone who gets a prescription to a potentially addictive substance monitor their usage and behavior with a doctor and always follow instructions on how much to take, how frequently to take it, and when to take breaks from it.
How likely is a benzodiazepine addiction?
Research indicates that around 80% of people who are addicted to benzodiazepines struggle with addiction to multiple substances, most commonly with opioids. Some statistics indicate that of those who are prescribed benzodiazepines, 17% who misuse them will develop an addiction.
Note that simply using benzodiazepines as prescribed does not mean that you will develop an addiction, but addiction risk is more likely if you abuse or misuse the benzos, taking them more frequently than you should, taking higher doses than you are prescribed, or combining them with other substances.
