Benzos are the slang name for benzodiazepines, a commonly prescribed sedative. When prescribed by a doctor, benzos are used to treat various mental health conditions as well as seizures. Unfortunately, like many drugs, when benzos are misused, they can be highly addictive. Even when taking them in their prescribed dose, many people develop an increased tolerance and dependence on the drug over time. The more they are used, the harder it becomes to stop using them. The withdrawal symptoms can also be severe. To learn about benzo addiction treatment in Georgetown, TX, and how to recognize the signs of benzo overdose, contact an accredited addiction treatment facility like The Arbor today.
What Is Benzo Addiction?
Addiction sets in when you become so dependent on the drug you are using that you do anything to stay on it. A sure sign of addiction is also when you need more and more of the drug to achieve the desired effect. Also, you are likely to take dangerous measures to ensure you have more of the drug.
High doses of benzos can cause severe mood swings, extreme highs, and lows to the point of appearing asleep. There are also long-term medical conditions that can develop from the overuse of benzos. These conditions can include memory loss, cognitive impairment, speech issues, and compromised muscle strength. This drug use risks basic functions required to carry out everyday life tasks. Even when the drug use has stopped, it can take a long time to recover from any of these issues.
Common benzo brand names include:
- Ativan
- Klonopin
- Paxipam
- Xanax
- Valium
- Librium
The biggest risk of benzo use is an overdose, which can easily result in death. Get the help needed today by calling a benzo addiction treatment program at a facility like The Arbor.
Signs of Benzo Overdose
One of the first steps to getting help for a benzo addiction is recognizing the signs of addiction and potential benzo overdose. Be on the lookout for the behaviors below. Also, get help immediately from a medical professional, addiction treatment facility, or by calling 911.
- The person is unresponsive – An overdose on benzos can cause someone’s breathing to become so shallow that they will not wake up from their seemingly comatose state.
- They see things that are not there – Hallucinations are one of the most common signs of an overdose, especially in those people who have abused benzos for a long period of time.
- They have a seizure – For those long-term benzo abusers, trying to withdraw on their own can be dangerous. Seizures are a common withdrawal symptom.
- Their blood pressure is very low – Hypotension caused by an overdose looks like they are dehydrated, have blurry vision, and have trouble balancing themselves.
- Their extremities are blue – When lips or fingertips turn blue due to a lack of oxygen in the blood, this is a sign of hypoxia brought on by an overdose. This can lead to organ failure and death.
Treating Benzo Addiction at The Arbor
An addiction to benzos is a serious disease and its treatment needs to be taken seriously. A safe and supervised environment, like the one at The Arbor in Texas, will give you the best chance—for you or a loved one—for a successful withdrawal, treatment, and recovery.
In addition to benzo addiction treatment, The Arbor offers:
- Alcohol addiction treatment
- Heroin addiction treatment
- Opioid addiction treatment
- Fentanyl addiction treatment
- Meth addiction treatment
Choose from both residential and outpatient options, as well as a variety of traditional and experiential therapies, including family, group, behavioral, and equine therapies. Our treatment team is here to answer any questions you have about benzo addiction therapy in Texas. Call the team at 844.413.2690.