If you’ve struggled with the safe use of benzodiazepine medications, you’re not alone. Millions of people are prescribed benzodiazepines for anxiety, insomnia, or other conditions—and many find themselves misusing these drugs, either unintentionally or for their euphoric effects. Unfortunately, recreational use or dependence can quickly lead to a dangerous cycle of addiction. Benzodiazepines are powerful substances, and breaking free from their grip often requires professional support and comprehensive care. At our facility, we offer compassionate, evidence-based Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment in Spokane, Washington to help individuals regain control and build healthier, substance-free lives. Through medically supervised detox, therapeutic support, and relapse prevention strategies, we provide the tools and guidance needed for lasting recovery. If you’re ready to take the next step, our team is here to walk with you—every step of the way. Let’s explore how our treatment approach can help you or your loved one find hope and healing.
What Is Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Benzodiazepine addiction is a situation millions of people in the United States find themselves in. Simply put, benzo addiction is when you are dependent on the drug class of benzodiazepines. Being dependent means your system has come to rely on benzos in order to function in what is your new normal. When you go too long without taking more of the medication, you will experience withdrawal symptoms like cravings for more. Because benzodiazepines are so powerful on your brain and body, ignoring the withdrawal symptoms is incredibly difficult. Most people remain trapped in an addiction cycle because they can’t resist the pull of their next dose.
The pull of benzodiazepines is entirely understandable based on the way they work in the system. To elaborate, benzodiazepines are central nervous system depressants, with your CNS composed of your brain and spine. In your brain, you have GABA-receptors, which are the primary inhibitory neurotransmitters. This means they are responsible for slowing and calming your nervous system. Because benzodiazepines attach to the GABA-receptors, they produce relaxing, calming, and euphoric feelings throughout your body. It is because benzos are so potent and so enjoyable that your brain wants to keep experiencing them.
However, it’s important to note that benzodiazepines have medical use for a variety of conditions, like anxiety disorders, panic attacks, seizures, and sleep disorders. In these cases, it’s important to carefully use your prescription to avoid dependency.
List of Benzodiazepines
Benzodiazepines are a class of depressants. There are many different medications and branded medications in this category. Some of the most popular benzodiazepine prescriptions include the following drugs:
- Alprazolam (Xanax)
- Chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Lorazepam (Ativan)
- Clonazepam (Klonopin)
- Temazepam (Restoril)
- Halazepam (Paxipam)
- Clorazepate (Tranxene)
- Oxazepam (Serax)
- Estazolam (ProSom)
- Flurazepam (Dalmane)
- Triazolam (Halcion)
- Clobazam (Onfi)
Are Benzodiazepines Dangerous?
If you’re wondering whether benzodiazepines are safe, let’s further unpack the question. We discussed how benzodiazepines work in your system to flood it with positive and relaxing feelings. Essentially, what benzodiazepines are doing is altering your natural brain functioning by increasing certain positive neurotransmitters. In cases where an individual has a medical condition, putting their chemical processing out of balance, benzos do important work to balance everything out. For instance, if you have an anxiety disorder, you may have chemical imbalances due to hyperactivity in your brain. In this situation, benzos can really help in calming your overactive CNS. Thus, in the cases of medical conditions, benzodiazepines are important and useful. Their dose and use will be monitored by a doctor or therapist to ensure safety.
However, misusing or abusing benzodiazepines is indeed dangerous. The drugs are too powerful for you to play around with their effects on your system. One of the highest risks is addiction, which can lead to overdose and death. It is not safe to take benzodiazepines for a long time because your tolerance can increase, leading to addiction. Overall, the only safe way to take benzodiazepine medication is as prescribed by your doctor, as they will ensure your protection.
Do I Need a Prescription for Benzodiazepines in Washington State?
You are required to have a prescription if you want to buy benzodiazepines. In fact, they are a controlled substance in every state, including Washington. This means they are monitored for safe use to prevent people from abusing the drug type without a prescription. What if you think you need benzos for anxiety or another condition, and you don’t have a prescription?
The standard process for eligibility for prescription medication is to first meet with a doctor or therapist. You may need to attend more than one session before you receive a diagnosis. They will speak with you about your mental or behavioral health issue, and once they have enough information, they’ll make a diagnosis. At this point, they can also prescribe a medication to help alleviate your symptoms. Note that sometimes it takes some trial and error to find the right medication and dosage for your condition.
Over the next few weeks or months, they will check in to see whether the medicine is helping and if there are any concerning side effects. You can complete this whole process, including the following weeks of medication management, at Spokane Heights Detox.
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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Benzodiazepine Addiction?
It can be tricky to spot a drug addiction in someone you love, or even yourself. But keep an eye out for these signs and symptoms, as they can indicate an issue around drug use.
- Mood changes
- Irritability
- Lethargy
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Cravings
- Isolation
- Sneaky behavior
- Doctor shopping
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Slowed mental cognition
- Poor reactivity
- Appetite changes
Signs of drug addiction include mental, physical, and behavioral symptoms. If you think you or someone you know is abusing substances, please seek help right away.
What Is Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment in Washington State Like?
Treatment for benzodiazepine addiction at Spokane Heights is a straightforward process that is highly individualized and flexible in approach. Each individual receives a custom service plan for their time in rehab. Every part of it is based on their background, needs, obligations at home, and goals. You are welcome to move between all the levels of care we offer or spend reduced time in treatment. If you stay at Spokane Heights beyond the initial detox stage, you will participate in therapy and counseling and can receive a prescription medication.
Notably, it is also possible to receive dual diagnosis treatment at Spokane Heights Detox for numerous issues. To clarify, dual diagnoses are when a person has more than one condition. They can include a combination of mental health disorders and/or substance use disorders. We provide a full dual diagnosis treatment program to address your concurrent issues together in one treatment plan.
Benzodiazepine Detox
Medical detoxification is the first step of healing in our Washington state treatment center. During this time, which typically lasts between 4-10 days, you will safely remove benzodiazepines from your system. Unfortunately, your body will undergo withdrawal symptoms, but completing this process in our rehab center is the safest way to get through it. Additionally, we can make detox more comfortable with medical support, including comfort medications. At the end of detox, you will be at a base place of sobriety from which you can continue your recovery.
Inpatient Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Residential inpatient treatment is the next stage of recovery for individuals who are new to sobriety. During this level, emphasis is placed on gaining understanding about your addiction as well as personal motivation to start healing. To ensure you don’t relapse, you’ll learn alternative coping methods to use when you start to feel pain or symptoms. As you live in-center, your time will be spent in therapy, counseling, holistic activities, catered mealtimes, and free time.
Outpatient Treatment for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Once you’ve gained power over your addiction by unpacking it and practicing relapse prevention, the focus shifts to future planning. After outpatient rehab, you will be independent in your sobriety. Thus, this level of care is all about strengthening your tools and skills and preparing you for a fulfilling life. You will move out of the center but continue attending traditional and holistic therapy sessions. Additionally, you can work with your case manager to meet concrete needs, including housing, jobs, or schooling.
Aftercare for Benzodiazepine Addiction
Even once you graduate from rehab, you are still a valued member of the Royal Life Centers family. We do not cut our alumni off from support but rather continue to aid and encourage them. We can connect you to transitional care like Sober Living housing, as well as recovery support groups near you. If you have any questions or needs after graduating, we want to hear from you. You will remain part of our family for life!
Benzo Addiction Recovery Options
Struggling with an addiction to benzodiazepines is incredibly challenging. All addictions bring with them pain, trauma, and other baggage. Plus, in many cases, people become addicted to benzos due to a deeper issue, such as a mental health disorder like anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Along with treating your substance use disorder, we can treat any connected issues that led you to substances. Whether you’re struggling with anxiety, stress, trauma, or a different concern, our programming will address it. We combine evidence-based therapy with holistic therapy and optional medication management to create a well-rounded treatment plan for benzodiazepine abuse.
Managing Anxiety
If you originally turned to benzodiazepines for anxiety, it’s important you treat your mental health disorder along with your addiction. To ensure you don’t turn to substance abuse as a coping mechanism, you need to learn positive trigger management. Although you will feel anxiety symptoms sometimes, we’ll help you unpack your disorder and learn how to handle it. Traditional behavioral therapy is shown to improve the lives of people with anxiety disorders and other mental health challenges. Markedly, you will work with a therapist to progress through your healing based on your individualized treatment plan.
Holistic Treatment for Benzo Addiction
Holistic treatment options are also beneficial for anxiety disorders, especially when combined with traditional therapy. In fact, we find that the combination of traditional and alternative therapies is the most effective for addiction recovery, including dual diagnoses. This is because the mixture of treatment styles ensures your whole self is treated and addressed. Alternative therapies are holistic in nature, meaning they target the mind, body, and spirit collectively. Chiefly, we offer a wide range of holistic treatments you are welcome to explore as a guest of Spokane Heights.
Professional Drug Abuse Treatment Help
It’s time to heal from your substance use disorder. And if you find yourself struggling with connected mental health challenges, like anxiety symptoms, we want to help you find relief from that too. Through Spokane Heights’ benzodiazepine addiction treatment, you can receive the comprehensive healing you’ve been longing for. During treatment, you will engage in therapy and counseling, as well as skills training, case management, and optional prescription medication. As soon as you reach out to us, we can start planning your individualized treatment plan so don’t wait! Give us a call today to begin healing.
