Getting past dependence or addiction to benzodiazepines requires more than a spur-of-the-moment decision or a stated desire to become drug-free. It requires undertaking a benzo detox first, followed by professional drug rehab to ensure the most successful benzodiazepine addiction treatment outcome. For people battling addiction near Deerfield Beach, FL, our medical detox and rehab facility offers licensed, medically assisted detox and ongoing benzo rehab services.
How Is Benzo Addiction Treated?
Working with an accredited rehab center is the safest and most effective way of recovering from benzodiazepine addiction. At FHE Health, we offer a full continuum of care, including:
- Partial hospitalization programs. Where a patient receives 20 hours or more of care each week.
- Intensive outpatient programs. For those needing 9 or more hours of care per week.
- Residential care. For those requiring significant attention from physicians.
- Outpatient programs. For patients who have day-to-day commitments and who require limited clinical contact.
Benzo Addiction Detox
The process for benzo addiction detox typically involves 24-hour supervision at a professional treatment facility. Among the detox issues someone coming off benzo dependence and/or addiction may experience are depression, anxiety, trouble sleeping, poor concentration, and other unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
More severe and potentially dangerous benzo withdrawal symptoms can occur if the individual suddenly stops taking benzos. A supervised detox program helps ensure safe withdrawal and can mitigate some of the undesirable withdrawal symptoms.
Residential Benzo Addiction Treatment
Residential treatment for benzo addiction makes the benzo detox process more manageable, especially in cases where a person is using multiple drugs or substances. Among the advantages of residential treatment over other benzo addiction treatment options are:
- A stable, drug-free environment.
- 24-hour medical supervision that includes supervised medication management.
- And behavioral therapy that helps with the overall recovery process.
Outpatient Benzo Addiction Treatment
On the other hand, depending on how severe the benzo addiction is, outpatient treatment may be appropriate following benzo detox. Counseling and access to various therapies should be part of any outpatient treatment program for benzodiazepine addiction.
Why Is Quitting Benzos on Your Own so Difficult?
High Relapse Rate
Many people who attempt to come off benzodiazepines relapse quickly due to the intensity of the withdrawal symptoms. Undergoing a detox in a clinical setting allows your body to taper off the drug under medical supervision, reducing the likelihood of a relapse.
Other Drug Use
Many people who use benzos also use opioids. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, nearly 70% of overdose deaths involving benzodiazepines in 2023 also involved illicitly manufactured fentanyl. These co-occurring addictions can make recovery more complex.
Dangers of Withdrawal
The effects of withdrawal can be severe and even life-threatening, depending on the benzo dosage and how long you’ve been taking the drug. A benzodiazepine rehab center has trained medical professionals who can alleviate these symptoms.
Desensitization to Dependence
A surprising number of people have the misconception that benzos are safer than they are, partly because they’re so widely prescribed. Knowing that so many people are taking the drug can desensitize users to the dangers of dependence on benzodiazepines. In some cases, people who are dependent on these drugs don’t even realize how addictive they can be.
Medical & Mental Therapy Needed
The first steps to detoxing from benzo addiction are a complete medical assessment and a decision about any recovery medications that may be appropriate. Once a patient is stabilized and tolerating withdrawal sufficiently, psychological therapy is added to the regimen. FHE Health’s center in Deerfield Beach, FL, provides individual and group counseling to assist people as they progress through the stages of recovery.
Environmental Stressors
Once someone leaves a rehab center and returns to their daily life, they’re faced with the same challenges they had before entering treatment. This can often lead to a relapse. Effective rehab treatments include helping people find coping mechanisms and strategies to stay drug-free even in challenging circumstances.
How Long Is Benzo Addiction Treatment?
Treatment timelines can vary because effective benzo addiction treatment is tailored to the person. The duration of a benzo detox depends on several factors, including how long the person was using these drugs and the dose they were on. The care team will also consider other factors such as the person’s overall health and whether they have a history of abusing other drugs or alcohol.
What Therapies Are Used in Treating Benzodiazepine Addiction?
Behavioral therapies commonly used for treating benzodiazepine addiction include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Contingency management therapy (CMT)
- Couples therapy
- Family therapy
Therapy has several benefits, particularly when the treatment is overseen by skilled medical professionals as part of a residential stay. It helps in identifying triggers to use, for example, so that people can learn to avoid them or find healthy coping mechanisms to help them overcome stressors and urges.
What Are Medical Treatments for Benzodiazepine Addiction?
No medications are currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of benzo addiction. The most commonly used and evidence-based approach to withdrawal is to gradually taper off the drug.
Since many benzo withdrawal symptoms stem from sleep deprivation, clinicians may recommend sleep medication to help combat insomnia. They might also prescribe diazepam (Valium) to help manage some of the more troubling benzo withdrawal symptoms.
In the event that post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) occurs, the withdrawal process can be challenging as these symptoms can last for months. Fortunately, clinicians can manage these symptoms with medication and other supportive care.
Benzodiazepine Tapering Protocols
The Ashton Manual is a widely accepted approach to benzodiazepine withdrawal. It involves cross-titration (reducing a dose of one drug while gradually introducing another) and gradual tapering. The manual provides realistic timelines and guidelines for monitoring and managing both acute and post-acute withdrawal symptoms.
The care team carefully develops a taper schedule based on the individual’s unique benzodiazepine use, dose, and other relevant factors. In some cases, switching to a longer-acting benzodiazepine, such as clonazepam (Klonopin), as a replacement for a shorter-acting benzo such as Xanax, can help with tapering the dose.
Treating Benzo Addiction and Co-Occurring Anxiety
Some individuals who are experiencing benzo addiction have a co-occurring anxiety disorder. In this case, it’s important to take a careful approach to treatment to manage both issues. The FHE Health co-occurring disorders program can assist with that. Our care team is trained in anxiety treatment, setting people up for a successful recovery.
What to Expect from Benzo Rehab Treatment at FHE Health
At our treatment center in Deerfield Beach, FL, we offer a full range of therapies, including medically assisted detox and rehab. As part of the intake process, our care team will carry out a full medical assessment and devise a safe treatment plan that helps mitigate the symptoms of withdrawal.
During the first 72 hours, we monitor people going through withdrawal carefully, offering help to reduce unwanted symptoms and maintain their safety. Once the initial withdrawal period has passed, our patients transition to therapy and rehab treatments, where they learn coping strategies and skills that will help them avoid relapse when they return to their daily lives.
What Are Holistic Treatments for Benzodiazepine Use?
In addition to using evidence-based therapies for benzo addiction treatment, holistic therapies and treatment modalities are highly recommended to help make the transition from detox and through treatment more comfortable. Massage, meditation, yoga and other holistic treatment methods are among the practices utilized by reputable rehab facilities.
Massage
Massage therapy, while not a direct benzo addiction treatment, has a low risk when performed by a trained professional and has several benefits. The treatment itself is soothing, helps minimize the stress surrounding some of the issues involved in drug use and addiction, reduces pain sensation and intensity, and promotes a mindset more conducive to healing.
Yoga
Yoga is often recommended as a holistic and complementary benzo addiction treatment option, and for good reason. With its focus on body, soul, and mind as a single entity, yoga for addiction treatment helps to establish reconnection with the body and spirit, promotes self-esteem, balance, and reduction of impulsivity.
Mindfulness Meditation
Mindfulness meditation, and meditation in general, helps the individual in benzo treatment and recovery to maintain a sense of calm and peace, while increasing awareness of self, reducing intrusive thoughts and impulses, and improving overall mental functioning. Furthermore, mindfulness and meditation help to alleviate anxiety and depressive thoughts. It also helps to reduce stress levels, and can help cause a decrease in subjective pain levels.
Recovery From Benzo Addiction Is Possible With FHE Health
If you’re struggling with benzo addiction and would like to take control of your life, speak to the team at FHE Health. Our expert addiction counselors can help you on the path to recovery with a medically supervised detox and ongoing therapy. Contact us now to speak to the admissions team.
