Causes & Effects of Benzodiazepines Addiction

Learn about benzodiazepine addiction and abuse

Often referred to by the nickname “benzos,” benzodiazepines are a class of medication commonly used to treat anxiety disorders. Common benzodiazepines include Valium, Xanax, Ativan, and others. These medications are depressants that induce feelings of relaxation when they are ingested, making them effective treatments for anxiety and other ailments. However, these relaxing qualities can also make them tempting targets of abuse for individuals who are seeking a recreational high. Although they are quite safe when used as prescribed, benzos are powerful medications that can be addictive and extremely dangerous if not used as directed. Once an individual begins abusing these medications, he or she may find it difficult to overcome his or her compulsion to use them without professional help. Fortunately, effective treatments are available that can help individuals take their lives back from benzo abuse and rediscover long-term sobriety and health.

Benzo addiction statistics

Nationwide, approximately 0.2 percent of adults in a given year abuse sedatives, hypnotics, and antianxiety medications according to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), which is the family of drugs to which benzos belong. Rates of abuse tend to be greater among adult males than adult females, and individuals ages 18 to 29 are the most likely to abuse benzos.

Causes and risk factors for benzo addiction

It is impossible to blame one single factor for an individual’s struggle with benzo abuse. However, certain genetic and environmental risk factors can increase a person’s chances of succumbing to benzodiazepine abuse. These risk factors include:

Genetic: A person’s genetic inheritance can play a role in determining his or her risk of abusing benzos. Individuals with family members who abuse these drugs are more likely themselves to also abuse them.

Environmental: In addition to genetics, environmental factors also affect a person’s risk of developing a benzodiazepine use disorder. For example, one of the most prominent risk factors is how easily accessible benzos are. The more easily accessible these drugs are, a higher the risk that they will be abused. Unsurprisingly, individuals who have been prescribed benzos are more likely to abuse them. In addition, peer influence and family environment can also affect how likely a person is to abuse benzos.

Risk Factors:

• Impulsive tendencies
• Ease of access to benzos
• High desire for novelty
• Presence of other substance use disorders
• Family history of substance abuse
• Associating with others who abuse benzos or other drugs

Signs and symptoms of benzo addiction

The signs and symptoms of benzodiazepine abuse can vary depending on individual personality, the length of abuse, and the extent of abuse. However, the following are common indicators that a person may be abusing these drugs:

Behavioral symptoms:

• Using benzos in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than intended
• Investing much time and energy in obtaining more of one’s benzo of choice, using the drug, or recovering from its effects
• Continuing to use benzos even in situations where doing so may be hazardous
• A history of unsuccessful efforts to reduce benzo use
• Failure to fulfill major social, academic, or work obligations as a result of use

Physical symptoms:

• Experiencing withdrawal when discontinuing use
• Stumbling or difficulty walking
• Loss of coordination
• Uncontrollable eye movements
• Slurred speech
• Experiencing tolerance, which means needing more of the drug in order to feel its effects

Cognitive symptoms:

• Amnesia or “blackouts”
• Cravings for more of one’s benzo of choice
• Poor attention or memory
• Impaired judgment

Psychosocial symptoms:

• Continuing to use benzos despite recurrent interpersonal problems, such as relationship tension with a significant other
• Fluctuations in mood
• Avoiding or giving up important social, occupational, or academic activities in order to continue using benzos
• Impaired social functioning

Effects of benzodiazepine addiction

If left untreated, benzo abuse can have grave consequences, including:

• Onset or worsening of mental health symptoms
• Polysubstance use, addiction, or chemical dependency
• Relationship strain
• Social isolation
• Financial stress
• Loss of job
• Demotion
• Long-term unemployment
• Loss of child custody
• Separation or divorce
• Overdose, especially when benzo abuse is combined with alcohol abuse

Benzo addiction and dual diagnosis

Dual diagnosis is a clinical term that describes the simultaneous presence of two or more mental or behavioral health disorders. People who struggle with benzo abuse are at risk for dual diagnosis. The following are among the conditions that commonly impact people who have been abusing benzodiazepines:

• Antisocial personality disorder
• Anxiety disorders
• Other substance use disorders
• Bipolar disorder
• Depressive disorders

Your possible need for dual diagnosis care is one of the many reasons why it’s important to get help at a center than can fully assess your health. Failing to get care for dual diagnosis can undermine your ability to achieve long-term recovery from benzo abuse. When you get the comprehensive dual diagnosis help that you need, you will be much better prepared to experience true and lasting healing.

Effects of benzo withdrawal and overdose

Effects of benzodiazepine withdrawal: When a person abstains from benzo use after a long period of abusing the drugs, he or she will likely experience a series of uncomfortable symptoms known as withdrawal. Some of the signs and symptoms of withdrawal include:

• Rapid pulse
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Anxiety
• Seizure
• Short-term hallucinations
• Tremors
• Shaking
• Sweating
• Insomnia

Effects of benzodiazepine overdose: Ingesting more of a benzo than a person’s body can safely handle will result in an overdose, a dangerous and potentially life-threatening condition. Some of the effects of a benzo overdose include:

• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Slurred speech
• Anxiety
• Agitation
• Blurred vision
• Double vision
• Amnesia
• Slow or shallow breathing
• Loss of coordination
• Confusion
• Unresponsiveness
• Coma

Additional facts

How are benzodiazepines made?

Benzodiazepines are man-made psychoactive drugs composed of a benzene ring and a diazepine ring. Synthesis of benzodiazepines is a complicated process requiring special laboratory equipment and chemical expertise.