March 28, 2024

How Doctors Are Combating the Growing Benzo Addiction Problem

Benzodiazepines are a common type of tranquilizer that are prescribed to people who are suffering from problems including insomnia and anxiety. They are becoming a growing concern for doctors though because people can become addicted to them. Then this causes even bigger problems.

Benzos work by acting on the central nervous system causing a relaxing of the muscles and reduced levels of anxiety. Some people are predisposed to addiction and some people simply develop a reliance on them, and this is where the problems start. Although benzos aren’t usually lethal unless they’re taken alongside other harmful drugs, they can be damaging if they’re abused consistently.

Long-term changes in behaviour and personality could be symptoms of benzo addiction. Some people develop a short temper and get angry very quickly. Other people become drowsy, confused, dizzy or weak. And some people get very anxious, even though that was why they started taking the drugs in the first place.

The big problem with trying to stop taking benzos once you’re addicted is the withdrawal symptoms. The withdrawal that addicts experience can be very extreme. Some people who try to stop taking them abruptly start to have seizures. This completes a circle of dependency, and it poses a particular problem for doctors. So, how are they trying to combat this growing problem?

Illegal_Drug_Addiction_and_Substance_Abuse

Image Source

Rehab

The main aim of rehab for people addicted to benzos is detoxification combined with efforts to ward off withdrawal symptoms. Most rehab facilities try not to use other drugs because that simply leads to you swapping one addiction for another one. Rehab offers a chance at long-term recovery, so that’s why doctors see it as one of the best forms of recovery for people who are already addicted. But this process does little to stop people from becoming addicted in the first place. If you want to find out more about what happens during the rehab process, visit FirstStepDetox.com.

Blockers

Blockers are increasingly becoming the way in which doctors think we should treat benzo addictions. It’s a good way of stopping the withdrawal symptoms that come with benzo addiction. Implants and pumps are currently being trialled and developed by doctors around the world. Blockers work by stopping the effectivity of the drugs when they enter the body. If the drug is no longer giving the desired effect, the addict is forced to quit. It will probably be a whole before this is a common treatment though.

Limiting Access

Preventing people from becoming addicted to benzos means that doctors have to monitor people’s use of the drugs more closely. This is not always easy, but it can be done. Firstly, lots of people now think that doctors should prescribe the drug less. And then they should take steps to make sure it can’t be abused once it’s been prescribed. Some addicts will try to use doctors to gain access to higher doses of medication. This is where doctors have to be careful and make sure that addiction is caught early and treated so that it doesn’t become an even greater problem.

Posts Related to this Article: