Like millions of people across the U.S., you may have a prescription for a benzodiazepine or benzo. Sedative medications in this category can provide treatment for a variety of health conditions. However, their use comes with some notable risks, including the possibility of abuse and addiction. You may be able to spot a benzo problem before addiction occurs. And if you’ve already been affected by addiction, a benzo detox program can help you start your recovery.
Potential Signs of Benzo Abuse
There are two aspects to benzo abuse. The term can refer to a dangerous pattern of benzo use that increases your risk for future problems. It can also refer to certain forms of those problems.
A dangerous pattern of benzo abuse is also known as benzo misuse. This pattern can manifest in multiple ways. The list of possible examples includes:
- Recreational use of a benzo
- Use of higher benzo doses than your prescription allows
- Consumption of benzos more often than your prescription allows
- Modification of a benzo to speed up or enhance its drug effects
- Taking your own medication when your prescription has ended
- Use of a medication not prescribed to you
- Illegal purchase of a benzo
Doctors may also use the term benzo abuse in connection with a diagnosable mental health condition. The name of this condition is sedative, hypnotic or anxiolytic use disorder. It’s also known as SHA use disorder. In this context, clinical signs of benzo abuse include:
- Doing risky things more than once with a benzo in your system
- Not quitting benzos even though their use damages your relationships
- Using benzos in ways that interfere with your major life responsibilities
Notably, you don’t need to be addicted to have these problems. However, addiction is another common issue in people with SHA use disorder.
Prescription Drug Addiction
Benzo addiction is an example of prescription drug addiction. This term refers to an addiction to any kind of prescription medication. If you become addicted, you can develop a variety of possible symptoms. Those symptoms include loss of control over your medication use and an inability to quit taking it. They also include rising tolerance to a medication’s effects.
People affected by addiction frequently experience strong cravings for a given medication. Another common issue is withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms can appear if you quit using your medication.
They can also occur if you make steep cuts in your typical consumption. In addition, you may go into withdrawal if you wait too long between medication doses.
Benzodiazepine Addiction
The same symptoms define benzodiazepine addiction as other forms of medication addiction. You can start to develop problems after just a short period of benzo misuse. Some people with SHA use disorder are only affected by addiction. Others only have symptoms of clinical abuse. In addition, addiction and clinical abuse can occur together.
For these reasons, you may need treatment for any severe benzo problem. Effective treatment begins with a period of detox. Once your system is free of benzos, you can continue a rehab program.
Learn More About the Signs of Benzo Abuse at Springfield Wellness Center
Concerned that you may be misusing a benzo? Talk to the addiction specialists at Springfield Wellness Center. We’ll help clarify all of the ways in which misuse can occur.
Springfield Wellness is also your source for high-quality benzo detox. We use a range of methods to help you through this crucial process. Those methods include NAD+ therapy, a technique that helps stabilize your brain function. Doing so may make detox easier for you to complete. Call us today at 844.334.4727 or fill out our online form for more information on our services.