Valium Addiction

Why do people crack open a beer bottle or pop the cork on a bottle of wine in the evenings? The reasons are varied, but often, they have to do with relaxation. Alcohol seems to soothe an overactive mind, allowing people to forget about their troubles and transition from a busy work day into an evening filled with relaxation and family. Alcohol can have some nasty side effects, however, including a tendency to produce hangovers and a telltale scent that can alert others to the presence of something illicit.

Those who want the relaxation of alcohol without some of those side effects may be tempted to dabble in the use and abuse of Valium (also known by the generic name diazepam). This substance isn’t necessarily more difficult to obtain, when compared to alcohol, and it can bring about some of the same sensations that people crave. Unfortunately, recreational use of Valium has also been associated with very serious cases of addiction that can be difficult to deal with.

Common Uses

Valium is a benzodiazepine medication that’s provided to people who have a valid prescription. Typically, these people have disorders that manifest with feelings of anxiety. Without some kind of assistance, they may feel nervous and on edge almost every single minute of every single day. With medications, however, they can reduce the unusual electrical activity that’s lighting up their brain cells, and with that help, they may feel calmer and much more in control.

There are a number of different medications that can treat anxiety disorders. But studies quoted in a comprehensive article in the Psychiatric Times suggest that some forms of treatment for anxiety take a long time to become effective. Users must take several doses over a long period in order for the substances to build up to a level in which they can deliver relief. Valium and other benzodiazepines can take hold much faster, and that can allow people to get better much more rapidly.

For people who have anxiety disorders, these medications can be simply helpful. Taking the medications for a few weeks allows them the kind of clarity they may need to participate in intensive therapies and really learn how to control their thoughts. According to an article in the American Journal on Addictions, there’s little evidence that suggests that people who take the drugs for anxiety for a short period of time under the direction of a doctor will develop a subsequent addiction. It’s only when people get creative and take Valium in unusual ways or for unusual purposes that things move into the danger zone.

How Addictions Develop

Valium may slow down electrical signals in the brain, but the drug also boosts feelings of goodwill and euphoria. People who take the drug, particularly those who take very large doses of the substance, report feeling:

  • Loose
  • At peace with the world
  • Sedated
  • Relaxed
  • Silly

They can become somewhat obsessed with this sensation of relaxation and joy, and they can become desperate to attain that sensation, no matter the cost. Sometimes, people become so very eager to feel a sense of relaxation that they begin to mix and match Valium with other sedating substances, including alcohol and prescription painkillers. Blending drugs like this might very well make people feel relaxed, but it can also be deadly. Combining sedative substances means slowing the brain down to such a degree that vital functions, including breathing, may stop completely. It’s a sad fact that an addiction like this can be deadly.

But even those people who don’t lose their lives can suffer in other ways. With each little hit of Valium a person takes, the brain is amended. Signals of pleasure are no longer produced in the absence of the drug, and brain cells become accustomed to functioning at a slow and steady pace. In time, these changes can become so pronounced that people actually feel ill without access to Valium. Their brain cells seem to be moving too rapidly, leading to a sensation of anxiety and nervousness. Left untreated, these symptoms can progress to such a degree that people develop seizures and hallucinations. It’s a terrible consequence of addiction, and it can be so frightening that people who move through it just once become convinced that they simply can never get sober. They’re too frightened to try.

A Common Problem

People who have addictions like this might be much too ashamed to discuss their concerns openly, even with the people they love. As a result, they may come to believe that they are the only people alive with this kind of addiction issue to Valium, and that no one could possibly understand what they’re going through and what they want from the future. In reality, there may be dozens of people all around them who are going through much the same thing.

Valium is growing in popularity as a substance of abuse, according to an article produced by The Guardian, and it’s even moving into different markets. In the past, older women tended to develop addictions to the substance, but now, younger users of cocaine seem to be adding Valium into the mix. Older people aren’t immune to the allure of Valium, however, as an article produced by the Daily Mail suggests that women are still being given Valium by their doctors and developing decades-long addictions that they fuel with multiple visits to multiple different doctors.

While it’s common for people to discuss the dangers of illicit drugs like cocaine or heroin, and it might even be common in some circles to discuss the dangers of alcoholism, people who develop a compulsive need to use Valium might not be so likely to discuss their concerns aloud. But if they did, as these articles make clear, they might finally see that addictions really are common and that they can be conquered.

How Treatment Helps

In an addiction treatment program, people are encouraged to change the way they think, and in so doing, they might also change the way in which they act. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often the cornerstone of a healing program when an addiction to Valium is in play. Therapists help their patients to delineate the thoughts and behaviors that define the moments before they take a Valium pill.

Perhaps, as they contemplate taking Valium, they think about:

  • Being bored
  • Feeling nervous
  • Experiencing embarrassment
  • Sensing stress

They might be more tempted to use when they’re alone and have no distractions, or they might find that they’re more likely to use when they’re in the midst of a social situation. Going to parties might make them more likely to use, or perhaps workplace worries spark the need for a pill. The more detailed these people can be about their triggers, the more they can practice and learn in therapy. With each session, they’ll develop the skills they need to combat these triggers without lapsing back into drugs.

In an article in the journal Current Psychiatry, researchers suggest that modern addiction therapy attempts to determine how much patients might want to change right now, and what they might need to think about in order to become more committed to changing their lives in the future. This stages-of-change model means that addiction programs tend to accept patients as they are now, while helping them to come to a deeper understanding of how life might be different if they left Valium behind. Therapy is individualized, based on a patient’s willingness to work for change. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all model, therapists attempt to tailor their responses based on the needs of their patients.

In most cases, formal work with a therapist is augmented by work a patient does with peers in support group meetings. By spending time in support groups with people who have their own addictions, the sense of isolation is reduced, and they may learn lessons from their peers that they simply may not be able to learn from a licensed professional. For example, in therapy sessions, people with Valium addictions may learn all about how they should meditate and exercise to reduce stress, rather than leaning on pills. In group meetings, however, these people may meet other peers who have actually used these techniques in their own lives, and they might see the results of that work in a real and concrete way that eludes them in therapy. Their peers become their role models, and the work they do may also inspire others and motivate them to stay on track.

It’s not easy to recover from a Valium addiction, and it’s common for people who have these concerns to spend months in intensive therapies, and then spend months more in some type of follow-up care. Some people continue to spend time in support group meetings for years or even for the rest of life. But all of this hard work really can pay off, as people who commit to healing and take the lessons of rehab to heart really can stop abusing Valium, and they can put together a life that’s both meaningful and rewarding.

Would you like to get started? Please call us at Black Bear Lodge. We can provide you with a scientifically proven form of therapy, augmented by therapies that can nurture your soul and heal your spirit. All of your work will take place in our beautifully appointed facility, surrounded by the majesty of mountain foothills. It’s an experience you may never forget, and it might be just the best way for you to heal. Please call us at 706-909-9811 and we’ll explain how the enrollment process works. We look forward to hearing from you.

Alternatives to Valium (Diazepam) for Anxiety Disorders

There’s no question that Valium can be helpful for some people who have anxiety disorders. The sedating quality of the drug seems to have the unique ability to put the mind at ease, allowing feelings of nervousness and stress to abate or disappear altogether. However, Valium can also cause a boost in the production or uptake in chemicals associated with pleasure, and that can lead to addiction. Thankfully, those people who have diazepam addictions can lean on other types of therapy in order to gain control of their anxiety disorders.

Facing the Fear

Some anxiety disorders develop in response to a specific trigger. For example, some people might develop phobias regarding:

  • Dogs
  • Spiders
  • Bridges
  • Open spaces
  • Elevators

Even thinking about these triggers can fill these people with a sense of incapacitating fear and loathing, and they might down tons of Valium pills to keep the sensations from overwhelming them.

Similarly, some people are incapacitated by their memories of traumatic events. When they’re reminded of the incident, they experience sheer panic that doesn’t seem controllable. These people might have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they may lean on Valium in order to make their lives less difficult.

Both of these types of anxiety disorders can be successfully treated with exposure therapy. Here, the person is slowly reintroduced to the trigger and then given a series of steps that can be used to control the emotions that trigger brings about. In a study of the effectiveness of this kind of therapy in people who had PTSD, published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, researchers found that nine sessions were capable of delivering relief that lasted for 12 months or longer. Just becoming reacquainted with the trigger in a controlled situation could be intensely helpful.

Soothing the Mind

While exposure therapy can be helpful for some types of anxiety disorders, some people need to learn how to use the power of the mind to bring about a sense of relief and release. Meditation could be a valuable skill for these people to learn. When they begin to notice physical manifestations of anxiety, such as rapid breathing or sweaty palms, they can focus on a safe image or a soothing word while controlling their breathing and closing their eyes. With effort, the feeling of nervousness can fade and relaxation can take hold.

In a study of the effectiveness of meditation in people with anxiety disorders, published in The American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers found that a course in meditation could result in significant reductions in feelings of anxiety, as well as feelings of depression. People who emerge from this type of therapy may have a real tool they can use when they’re under pressure, allowing them to handle their feelings without leaning on drugs at all.

Find Out More

Reading about these other forms of anxiety therapy can be uplifting, especially for people who have been trapped by an addiction to Valium for months or even years. If you’d like to get started on a plan of your own, please call us at Black Bear Lodge. We use a variety of different therapies to help our patients to overcome their addictions and mental illnesses, and we’d like to tell you more about the help we can provide. Please give us a call at 706-909-9811 to learn more.

How Long Does It Take to Detox from Valium?

Valium used to be considered a safe “cure all” for almost any ill. It was over-prescribed, and its risks were downplayed. Valium is still commonly prescribed, but we know now it isn’t a harmless miracle worker. Use can lead to tolerance and dependence. Tolerance contributes to prescription misuse and abuse. Dependence makes it difficult to stop taking the drug without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Continued use of Valium can lead to addiction.

Why Does Detox Happen?

If you are dependent on a drug, you will experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. Withdrawal symptoms are a natural response. They occur because your body is used to functioning with Valium or other drugs present. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Benzodiazepines weaken the influence of a group of cells, called inhibitory interneurons…These neurons normally help prevent excessive dopamine levels by downregulating the firing rates of dopamine-producing neurons.”1 In other words Valium works by limiting the effects of neurons that limit dopamine. The body recognizes when there is too much dopamine present. It works to prevent this and reestablish balance. It produces more inhibitory neurons or makes existing neurons more effective. This explains why Valium becomes less effective over time. It explains why you or a loved one may find you need to take the drug in larger quantities or more often than recommended to get the desired effects. It also explains why withdrawal symptoms appear.

The body becomes used to functioning with Valium present. When Valium isn’t there, the body has excess inhibitory neurons and no external force balancing them. Until the body can readjust, things will be out of balance. Dopamine will be limited, and individuals will feel bad physically and mentally. This is only temporary, as our bodies are great at repairing and rebalancing themselves. However, while detox is happening, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. “Quitting benzodiazepines abruptly can result in more than 40 withdrawal side effects,” ABC News explains, “including headache, anxiety, tension, depression, insomnia, confusion, dizziness, derealization, and short-term memory loss.”2 These and other withdrawal symptoms vary from person to person. They vary depending on your unique health and history. They vary depending on how much Valium you use, how often you use it and if you use other drugs or alcohol as well.

What Is the Detox Timeline Like?

Detox and withdrawal vary in length and strength. Symptoms typically appear quickly, and they are often mild. WebMD explains, “The symptoms of withdrawal can be difficult to distinguish from anxiety. Symptoms usually develop at 3-4 days from last use, although they can appear earlier with shorter-acting varieties.”3 The more Valium a person has been using, the stronger symptoms will be and the longer detox will last. Individuals who have been taking Valium for years, in high doses or without a prescription are most at risk for severe withdrawal symptoms. Trying to quit without medical supervision increases the risks of detox. It also increases the timeline. ABC News reports that “10 percent of people who quit abruptly may experience a ‘syndrome’ of withdrawal symptoms that extend long after the drugs leave their bodies. This change can reverse, but for a small proportion of people, it can take months or years to recover.”2 Choosing medically supervised detox services ensures you or your loved one has the healthiest, simplest start to recovery. These services can flow seamlessly into the physical and mental health care that allows for years of health and sobriety.

Beginning Valium Detox

The fastest way to recover from addiction is to begin treatment today. Call Black Bear Lodge at 706-909-9811. We help you get sober safely with medically supervised detox services. We follow these services with therapies designed to build and strengthen your recovery for life. With our help, you or your loved one can move past detox and addiction.

The Risks of Abusing Valium (Diazepam)

For millions of Americans who take Valium, or diazepam, under a doctor’s supervision, this medication can be a lifesaver. But for those who abuse the drug, Valium presents severe health risks. Valium is a central nervous system depressant, which suppresses brain activity in order to soothe anxiety, prevent seizures or relieve muscle spasms. In the process of slowing down electrical activity in the brain, Valium also slows down vital functions like respiration. Taking too much Valium, or using the drug inappropriately, can cause breathing difficulties, excessive sedation, confusion, and amnesia. And because Valium is addictive, abusing this potent tranquilizer can make you physically and psychologically dependent on its chemical properties.

Why Is Too Much Valium Dangerous?

Like other drugs in the benzodiazepine family, Valium is classified as an anxiolytic, an anticonvulsant, and an antispasmodic drug. Because Valium relaxes the muscles while slowing activity in the central nervous system, abusing the drug can make you confused, forgetful, drowsy and uncoordinated. The Merck Manual cautions that because Valium can cause physical and cognitive impairment, users should avoid tasks that require mental alertness, like driving or operating dangerous equipment when taking the drug.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, taking even a therapeutic dose of Valium can cause a significant decline in your ability to perform certain tasks. Drivers under the influence of Valium have slower reaction times, slower braking times, and are less focused than drug-free drivers.4

When you take a high dose of Valium, you may experience a wide range of adverse effects, including:

  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Agitation
  • Decreased hand-eye coordination
  • Slow reflexes5

Users who take high doses of Valium on a regular basis are likely to become chemically dependent. Tolerance to diazepam — or the need for higher doses to achieve the same results — can begin in as little as one or two weeks. Because quitting Valium can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, insomnia, agitation, nausea or muscle pain, recreational users often find it hard to stop on their own.

How Does Valium Abuse Affect Me Over Time?

Long-term Valium abuse takes a toll on your body and mind. Chronic, heavy users often show signs of cognitive impairment, such as memory loss, learning problems and difficulties with problem-solving. Although Valium is prescribed to relieve the symptoms of anxiety, abusing this drug can eventually make you more anxious and restless. Diazepam use has also been linked to increased rates of depression and suicidal thinking.6

Over time, Valium abuse can lead to sleep disturbances, weight changes, urinary problems, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. The National Library of Medicine lists diazepam as one of the psychiatric medications that can cause impotence in men.

Finding Help for Valium Abuse

Valium withdrawal symptoms can range from uncomfortable to fatal, depending on how much you taken and how long you’ve been abusing the drug. Heavy users may have seizures if they try to stop taking Valium too quickly. Medically supervised detox centers offer a safe, structured environment for benzodiazepine withdrawal, including a gradual dose reduction to wean you off the drug.

But recovering from Valium abuse isn’t just about clearing toxins from your body. To achieve a full recovery, you need a holistic Valium addiction treatment program that offers intensive psychotherapy, family counseling, group support, and alternative therapeutic modalities. At Black Bear Lodge, we provide comprehensive recovery services in a serene, forested setting in the mountains of northern Georgia. Call us at 706-909-9811 for support and to speak to an admissions coordinator about treatment options.

The Prescribed Uses for Valium (Diazepam)

Valium, the trade name for diazepam, earned its reputation as an anti-anxiety agent in the 1970s. At that time, the drug was so popular that it became a cultural phenomenon, representing the country’s new faith in psychiatric medication. Today, the medical community has become more aware of the abuse potential of Valium; however, the drug is still frequently prescribed for a number of physical and psychiatric conditions.

For What Is Valium Prescribed?

Relief of anxiety is still the most common reason for prescribing Valium. According to WebMD, nearly 29 percent of Americans struggle with anxiety at some point in their lives, and the country spends $42 billion each year treating anxiety-related disorders. Anxiety is a debilitating condition that can affect your quality of life, detracting from your work, relationships, sleep and overall health.

How It Works

Valium calms the central nervous system by binding with brain receptors that respond to a neurotransmitter called GABA. At therapeutic doses, Valium can make you feel more relaxed, less stressed and more capable of coping with the demands of life.

Valium is also prescribed for other disorders that arise from abnormal activity in the brain or nerves, including:

  • Seizure disorders
  • Insomnia
  • Muscle spasms
  • Alcohol withdrawal syndrome

Valium is also used as a sedative before certain surgical procedures. In a hospital setting, it is given intravenously to treat status epilepticus, or a state of continuous seizures.

In the 1970s, Valium was the gold standard of treatment for anxiety disorders. In the 21st century, less addictive medications may be prescribed first for anxiety. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac, Celexa, Lexapro and Paxil, can also provide effective treatment for anxiety. Buspirone is an anti-anxiety medication that does not have the sedative qualities or addictive potential of benzodiazepines like Valium.

Who Should Not Take Valium?

Because diazepam is readily absorbed by your system, it provides efficient relief of anxiety symptoms, sleeplessness or muscle spasms. But this rapid absorption also increases the abuse potential of Valium, according to the American Family Physician.

Diazepam is not generally prescribed, or is prescribed with caution, in the following patients:

Your doctor will review your health history to determine whether diazepam is a safe, effective option for you. Valium should only be taken with a health care provider’s supervision and according to the directions on your prescription. Tolerance to diazepam can develop within a few weeks of therapy, which means that your doctor may need to adjust the dose in order to maintain its effects.

Because the brain quickly becomes tolerant to the effects of Valium, this drug is not recommended for patients who have had problems with addiction in the past. However, Valium may be given in a medically supervised setting to prevent the seizures, tremors and agitation associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

Am I at Risk of Valium Addiction?

If you’ve been taking Valium for nonmedical reasons, you are at risk of chemical dependence and addiction. Valium use must be monitored carefully to keep the user from developing a compulsive need for the drug. If you’re worried that you’ve lost control of your diazepam use, we’re here to offer help, support and answers to your questions.

Black Bear Lodge offers transformative rehab services at our treatment center in northern Georgia. Surrounded by inspiring views of the Appalachian foothills, you’ll be able to focus on your recovery in this serene setting. Call us at 706-909-9811 for more information about our individually tailored treatment programs for prescription drug addiction.

What Are the Symptoms of Valium (Diazepam) Addiction?

Common colds, flu viruses, and sprained muscles are easy to identify. When family members demonstrate symptoms of these common problems, their loved ones know just what to do in order to relieve the suffering. Unfortunately, an addiction to Valium rarely produces the same clear-cut set of symptoms.

Instead, the problem tends to develop differently in different people, and sometimes, the symptoms an addiction produces can be so subtle that they can be easy to miss.

Valium Basics

Valium, or diazepam, is part of a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. These drugs are used to treat anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and seizures. Valium works in the brain to calm brain chemicals and nerves that might become agitated or unbalanced due to excessive stress or other conditions that lead to anxiousness.7 When used as part of a treatment plan, Valium can help those struggling with the symptoms of the conditions it’s designed to treat. Valium, like other benzodiazepines, is highly habit-forming.

Using the drug for long periods of time or in ways other than prescribed by a physician can quickly lead to dependence and addiction.

Signs of Valium Addiction

People who have an addiction to Valium are, not surprisingly, under the influence of the drug most, if not all, of the time. The signs of drug intoxication might be subtle, particularly in people with long histories of drug abuse and a subsequent high tolerance for the drug.

Along with the common side effects of sedation and euphoria, people under the influence of Valium can often:

  • Fall asleep in the middle of conversations
  • Seem blissfully happy for no reason at all
  • Express affection in odd moments
  • Nod off while driving8

Long-term abuse of diazepam can also produce emotional blunting, meaning that people with advanced cases of addiction might struggle to connect with others on a deep, non-intellectual level. While their family members might rant and cry, an addicted person might seem so sedated and buffered that this kind of response is unlikely.

Other Health Issues

It’s not uncommon for people with a Valium addiction to land in the hospital. According to a CNN report, 30 percent of all prescription drug overdose deaths in 2013 were the result of Valium abuse.9

Valium is a sedative, meaning that it can slow breathing rates to a crawl. People who take very high doses of the drug might do so in order to bring about euphoria, but their habits might sedate their bodies to such a degree that they compromise their ability to stay alive. In the hospital, experts might run blood and urine tests, looking for evidence of drug use. If those tests flag Valium, that should prompt the family to hold a discussion about addiction.

People who inject Valium pills into their veins may also develop pockets of infected tissue, as the pills don’t tend to break down in the bloodstream. Strange and unusual blisters, frequent complaints of arm pain or even insistences of wearing long sleeves at all times could be indications that abuse is taking place.

Taking Action

If you’ve seen the signs of Valium addiction in someone you love, we’d like to help. Please call us at Black Bear Lodge, and we can explain how Valium addiction care works and how it might help you or your loved one. Our calls are confidential, so you won’t need to worry about betraying your loved one’s trust. Instead, you’ll be doing your part to make things better.

Please call us to find out more about Valium addiction treatment today at 706-909-9811. Our admissions coordinators are available 24 hours a day to answer your questions and help you find treatment. Call us now.

How Long Does It Take to Become Addicted to Valium (Diazepam)?

Each addiction experience is unique. While the disease tends to develop and progress according to a certain pattern, the details of this pattern vary. You may have taken a drug for years without problems. You may have quickly slid from use to abuse and dependence. There is no specific time frame for how long it takes to become addicted to a drug like Valium.

The Valium Addiction Progression

At first, you choose to use a drug like Valium medically or recreationally. Over time, the choice gradually or quickly disappears. Your body becomes tolerant to Valium, which means you need more of the drug to continue to feel its desired effects. Tolerance develops at different speeds depending on how much you take and how often you take it.

Your physical and mental health also play a role in determining how quickly your brain and body adjust to Valium’s presence. Pre-existing health issues and other risk factors determine how quickly this tolerance becomes dependence and then addiction.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains, “Dependence develops when the neurons adapt to the repeated drug exposure and only function normally in the presence of the drug. When the drug is withdrawn, several physiologic reactions occur.”10

You progress past needing more of the drug to feel good; you need more and more of the drug to feel “normal.” At this point, continuing to take Valium becomes a matter of avoiding withdrawal symptoms. You begin to believe you need the drug to feel good or function without realizing that the drug itself is causing many of the negative thoughts and feelings you are experiencing.

When you continue using Valium despite experiencing negative effects related to its use, the disease of addiction has begun. You may or may not be aware of the impact Valium has on your health and your life especially at first. Addiction itself changes your perception of drug use. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) puts it this way: “Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response.”11

Addiction is not defined by how long you have been using a drug or how much of the drug you use. Addiction is a mental health issue defined by the inability to stop using despite consequences or to even perceive many consequences.

How Do I Slow the Progression of Valium Addiction?

Not everyone who uses Valium becomes addicted. You can reduce your risk or slow the progression of tolerance and dependence and, therefore, addiction. First understand your risk factors. A family history of addiction puts you at greater risk for developing addiction issues and developing them faster.

“Genetic factors account for about half of the likelihood that an individual will develop addiction,” according to ASAM.

Consider your parents, siblings and other relatives’ relationships with prescription medications, alcohol and other drugs. If they struggle with substance abuse issues, talk with your doctor about alternatives to addictive drugs like Valium before starting any prescription.

Carefully monitor your drug use, and be aware of and honest about any changes in thought, behavior, mood, and physical health. Take these changes seriously, and quickly take action to slow the progression of Valium addiction and begin your path to recovery.

Genes aren’t the only factors influencing the rate of Valium addiction development. Underlying mental health concerns put you at risk for substance abuse and dependence. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports: “People with a mental health issue are more likely to use alcohol or drugs than those not affected by a mental illness. Results from the 2014 NSDUH report showed that of those adults with any mental illness, 18.2% had a substance use disorder, while those adults with no mental illness only had a 6.3% rate of substance use disorder in the past year.”12

Mental health and addiction are closely linked. This doesn’t mean a preexisting mental health issues guarantees addiction. It does mean you are at greater risk for addiction and that substance abuse-related problems are more likely to develop faster if they do begin.

It’s important to know if, how and why you are at risk for Valium addiction. Call Black Bear Lodge to learn more about how long it takes to become addicted to this powerful and how you can recover. You can learn to manage your risk factors and relapse triggers. You can overcome cravings and find a life free from Valium and other substance abuse.

We help you understand addiction and give you the tools, skills, and resources you need to stay sober. Call 706-909-9811, and begin your recovery today.

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How Much Is Too Much Valium?

Valium is a popular benzodiazepine drug. Doctors prescribe it to treat anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasms and seizures. People take it to self-medicate or for “fun.” No matter the reason you take Valium, you can take too much. Valium is addictive. It is easy to lose track of how much of the drug you’re taking. It is easy to overdose.

Valium Overdose Risk

You can overdose any time you use a sedative drug like Valium. Some actions and risk factors make overdose even more likely.

The Mayo Clinic lists the following overdose risk factors:

  • Past or present addictions to other substances
  • Family history of substance abuse problems
  • Younger age
  • Certain pre-existing psychiatric conditions
  • Exposure to peer pressure or a social environment where there’s drug use
  • Easy access to prescription drugs, such as through your own or a family member’s prescription
  • Lack of knowledge about prescription drugs and their potential harm13

All of these factors relate to overdose risk. None of these factors involve a specific amount of the drug. “Too much” will vary. It is influenced by your individual biology, psychology, and use habits. Overdose is also influenced by how long you have been taking a drug or drugs. The longer you’ve been using Valium, the easier it is to take too much.

The British Medical Journal (BMJ) shares that when it comes to benzodiazepines like Valium, the, “longer the exposure to these medications, the higher the risk of overdose.”14 As time passes, your body develops a tolerance. You have to take more and more of the drug to feel its desired effects. The amount that causes an overdose does not rise at the same pace.

The most common, and most deadly, reason for too much Valium is drug mixing. Combining Valium with other drugs or alcohol increases the likelihood of overdose. It increases the likelihood of serious harm or death as a result of that overdose. BMJ continues, “Nearly 30% of fatal ‘opioid’ overdoses also involve benzodiazepines, which are often used concurrently with opioids.”14 You need far less of any one drug to overdose if you use it in conjunction with another.

How Do I Know If I Took Too Much?

If you take too much Valium, you will begin to experience signs of overdose. These include the following:

  • Sleepiness
  • Blurry vision
  • Lack of balance
  • Poor coordination
  • Slow reflex responses
  • Slurred speech

Someone who has overdosed on Valium may have cool skin with a blue tinge and may appear to be sleeping deeply. The severity of symptoms depends on the amount of the drug you’ve taken, your age, your health condition, and whether you’ve taken other substances. Overdose symptoms can progress to respiratory depression, cardiac complications, coma and death.

What Should I Do If I Take Too Much Valium?

If you take too much Valium, take action. Call emergency medical services if you are experiencing an overdose.

If you are dependent on or addicted to the drug, call addiction treatment professionals like those at Black Bear Lodge. If you have overdosed in the past, don’t wait until you take too much again.

Taking too much Valium in the past puts you at greater risk for serious consequences in the future. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, previous overdose experience puts you at greater risk of death the next time you take too much.15 Learn from the past. Let us help you put addiction and overdose risk behind you. Move forward to a bright, positive future. Call us today at 706-909-9811.

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How to Detox or Get Off Valium (Diazepam). Is It Deadly?

Beating back an addiction to Valium can be incredibly empowering. Rather than living as a slave to a chemical, a person in recovery has the skills needed for impulse control. A person in recovery might also feel capable of avoiding the people, places, and things that spark a craving for Valium. People in recovery are just different, and the hard work they do each day is responsible for that remarkable change. It’s tempting to use this empowering attitude during the early part of the recovery process, and people might feel as though the best way to get started is to go through a cold-turkey withdrawal process. Unfortunately, this approach is dangerous, and as a result, it’s never recommended.

Life-Threatening Reponses

If a person accustomed to taking Valium on a regular basis ceases that drug use abruptly, seizures can take hold. A study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal suggests that these seizures are somewhat rare, as they took place in just three of 19 people who entered a hospital for help with a benzodiazepine addiction. However, the seizures that develop can be intense, and they can come in clusters or waves that leave people fighting for their lives.

This sort of problem is almost entirely preventable, however, as long as people who have addictions to Valium get the help of a medical professional. In a formal detox program, people use a graded tapering process that allows them to transition from addiction to sobriety at a slow and steady pace. With a program like this, people won’t shock their minds to such a degree that seizures become likely. Instead, the slow progression will allow them to make the transition in a safe and controlled manner.

Typical Therapies

A medical expert is firmly in charge of a safe Valium withdrawal process, and that expert looks for signs and symptoms of serious medical problems, including:

  • Hallucinations
  • Sweating
  • Intense anxiety
  • Nightmares
  • Dilated pupils

If these symptoms take hold, the tapering process is moving much too quickly, and a dosage adjustment is in order. Close monitoring like this is considered the best way in which to keep someone safe while they adjust to sobriety.

Some people choose to go through this process at home, and they check in with their doctors on a regular basis in order to ensure that everything is progressing properly. However, a study in the journal Canadian Family Physician suggests that this approach might be best for people who don’t have an addiction in play. Those who have been taking the drug therapeutically and who want to stop doing so might be able to adhere to a tapering schedule, the authors suggest, but those who have a compulsive need to take the drug might find it too tempting to bump up their doses or otherwise abuse the drug. People like this might need supervision that only a residential program can provide.

If you’d like the help of a comprehensive program for your Valium addiction, we hope you’ll contact us at Black Bear Lodge. We have a variety of treatment options we can explain to you right over the phone. Please call us at 706-909-9811 to find out more.

How to Help a Family Member With a Valium Drug Addiction

Watching a beloved family member use and abuse Valium, day in and day out, is incredibly difficult. Most people want the abuse to stop, and they might be willing to do almost anything to produce that kind of long-term sobriety, but family members might not know exactly what to do or what to say in order to help the person they love so very much. Thankfully, there are a number of things concerned family members can do in order to ensure that an addiction doesn’t progress.

Stress the Importance of Therapy

In modern, do-it-yourself culture, people who have addictions are often encouraged to take the reins and control addictions on their own, without the help of others. It can be tempting to pressure someone with a Valium addiction to follow this path, but unfortunately, these addictions rarely abate without the help of a qualified professional.

For example, in a study in The American Journal of Psychiatry, researchers report that people required to follow a rapid dose reduction of benzodiazepines tended to relapse, and they did so quickly. They couldn’t handle the symptoms of withdrawal, and without support, they just couldn’t get sober.

In a formal detox program, people have access to therapies that can soothe discomfort, and the professionals that run these programs help to stress the importance of a slow and steady progression from addiction to sobriety. By explaining how addiction programs work and how they might help to ease discomfort, families might entice the addicted person to get the right kind of care, and that might lead to true healing.

Deal With the Cause

Addictions to Valium can, at times, stem from underlying anxiety disorders. These mental health conditions don’t come about due to weakness or a lack of character. Instead, they are very real medical problems that tend to get worse unless they are treated, and according to the National Alliance on Mental Health, they impact about 18 percent of Americans in any given year.

Being sensitive to anxiety disorders means avoiding harmful catch phrases, such as:

  • Get over it.
  • Snap out of it.
  • Man up.
  • Forget about it.

Instead, families should strive to be compassionate, listening closely when the person attempts to discuss feelings of anxiety and nervousness that prompt the abuse of Valium. In a therapy program, people will need to talk about their feelings openly with their therapists, and families that listen with compassion are demonstrating that these talks can be positive and that they can go well. It might not be easy to listen but it can be a remarkable gift.

Those who do have anxiety disorders complicating their Valium addictions will need the help of a special Dual Diagnosis program that provides care for both the addiction and for the mental health problem that lies beneath. These programs provide a comprehensive level of care that may not be available in standard addiction programs, and those families that seek out these types of programs could be providing intense help to their loved ones in need.

If you need an anxiety and Valium addiction treatment program for someone you love, please call us at Black Bear Lodge. We provide just this sort of care for people in need, and we’d be happy to answer any questions about how care works and how much it might cost. Please call us at 706-909-9811 to find out more.

The Issues of Recreational Use of Valium (Diazepam)

Diazepam has many names. One of the most famous of these belongs to Valium, a popular brand-name version of the drug. When individuals use Valium recreationally, it may go by other names.

These “street” names can include the following:

  • Vs
  • Blue Vs
  • Valley girls
  • Tranqs
  • Yellows
  • Blues

Street names can make a drug seem cooler or less harmful. They make drugs appear sillier or more fun. They undermine the seriousness of any prescription drug abuse. People often underestimate the strength and potential side effects of Valium. Because doctors often prescribe this drug and it does have legitimate medical uses, you may be tempted to think of it as safe. However issues arise even with careful, medically monitored use. Recreational use has even more associated consequences.

The Issues Associated with Valium (Diazepam)

When Valium first entered the market, its makers advertised it as a safer alternative to other tranquilizer drugs such as Seconal and Nembutal. It quickly became widely prescribed and used. This early popularity led to issues and concerns.

The Consultant Pharmacistreports, “Medical professionals greeted benzodiazepines enthusiastically at first, skyrocketing their popularity and patient demand. In the mid-to-late 1970s, benzodiazepines topped all ‘most frequently prescribed’ lists…By the 1980s, clinicians’ earlier enthusiasm and propensity to prescribe created a new concern: the specter of abuse and dependence.”16

Dependence and addiction concerns, valid for the millions of people with Valium prescriptions, are even more pressing for those using the drug recreationally.

Valium (Diazepam) Abuse and Dependence

Any non-prescribed use of a drug is substance abuse. You can abuse Valium even if you have a prescription for it. Taking the drug more often or in larger amounts than your doctor recommends is considered abuse. It may not be illegal, but it is still harmful.

While you may feel you need more of the drug to manage anxiety or other symptoms, talk with a medical or mental health professional before making any changes to how or what you use. Tolerance is a common and often unavoidable side effect of Valium use.

Supplementary medications or therapy methods can help control symptoms to ensure you don’t just find yourself taking more and more of the drug. If you find you depend on Valium to feel good or can’t imagine going a day without the drug, consider reaching out for integrated treatment. This form of substance abuse treatment also addresses mental and physical health issues to ensure you find health and healing on multiple levels.

You may use Valium without any prescription at all. You may use it to feel good or in conjunction with other drugs. You may use it to self-medicate health concerns rather than seek a euphoric high. No matter the reason you use Valium without medical approval, you put yourself at increased risk for tolerance, dependence, and addiction.

You also put yourself at increased risk of side effects and issues such as the following:

  • Loss of motor coordination
  • Slow reflexes
  • Abnormal muscle movements
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Confusion
  • Memory loss

Recreational Valium use also takes a toll on your physical and mental health. You can experience greater depression or anxiety issues, the same concerns you may be hoping to self-medicate with the drug.

Ending Valium Use

Ending Valium use involves more than throwing away your pills and resolving to quit. When withdrawal symptoms occur, cravings hit, or mental health symptoms resurface, you will find yourself returning to the drug. Relapse is not a sign of failure, but it is a sign that you need more support for recovery.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse explains that relapse doesn’t mean recovery is over or is impossible. Instead, they say, “For a person recovering from addiction, lapsing back to drug use indicates that treatment needs to be reinstated or adjusted or that another treatment should be tried.”17

Find professional treatment to achieve real, long-term recovery. Reach out to Black Bear Lodge at 706-909-9811. We offer personalized, integrated care. Call us to gain personal support and valuable life skills. Learn how to manage cravings and mental health symptoms. Learn how to rediscover overall well-being and joy in life.

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What Can Happen When You Mix Valium (Diazepam) with Other Drugs or Alcohol?

Valium is a prescription drug. It can have valuable, therapeutic effects. It can also have dangerous ones. When Valium is mixed with other substances, the results are unpredictable. Valium can harm rather than help.

What Is Valium?

Valium is a trade name for diazepam. Diazepam is a central nervous system depressant that can calm overactivity in the brain and body. When taken with a prescription and under medical supervision, diazepam is generally safe at relieving anxiety symptoms, inhibiting seizure activity, promoting sleep, or preventing painful muscle spasms. This does not mean Valium is harmless.

When taken without a prescription, in larger doses than recommended, or in combination with other drugs, Valium becomes increasingly dangerous.

What Happens When You Mix Depressants?

When Valium is taken with other depressants — alcohol, opioids, anti-anxiety medications or sleeping pills — the risk of dangerous side effects increases. WebMD18 shares, “Of all fatal overdoses from narcotic medications, nearly 30 percent also involved benzodiazepines, such as Xanax, Klonopin and Valium.”

Users may experience the following:

  • Decreased psychomotor coordination
  • Increased drowsiness or sedation
  • Increased confusion
  • Slowed respiration

These are the same signs and symptoms of overdose as taking too much Valium alone. However, when Valium is combined with opioids or other depressants, these effects arrive sooner and more powerfully than expected. WebMD continues, “When patients take benzodiazepines along with narcotic painkillers such as OxyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin, the mix lowers the threshold for an overdose.”

Blending tranquilizers with opioids is especially deadly, as both classes of drugs can heighten the risk of respiratory depression, a slow heart rate, extreme sedation, coma, and death.

What Happens When You Mix Depressants and Stimulants?

Individuals may take Valium to help them calm down after taking drugs that stimulate the central nervous system. But when you take Valium with stimulants like cocaine, meth, and amphetamines, you expose yourself to adverse drug reactions.

Depressants do not cancel the effects of stimulants or vice versa.

They complicate and often increase the risks involved. The journal Medical Hypotheses19 explains in great technical detail, but the summary is this: Taking diazepam with stimulants places great strain on the heart. It puts users at risk for heart damage, heart attack, and death. Users may be more susceptible to overdose and to other associated health problems.

Ending the Dangers of Drug Combinations

The prospect of going through rehab and recovery can seem overwhelming. Recovery appears complicated enough when only one drug is involved. What do you do when you or a loved one takes multiple drugs? You call Black Bear Lodge at 706-909-9811. At Black Bear Lodge, we provide the support you need to overcome poly-drug abuse.

Our holistic treatment programs are individually tailored to your needs so you can recover safely at your own pace. Addiction is a complicated, challenging disease. Recovery doesn’t have to be the same. We encourage you to call our addiction treatment coordinators at any time. Find out how our recovery programs can help you find the health and hope you deserve.

Sources

Mood Disorders Caused by Benzodiazepines

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