Valium Addiction Abuse

Valium: The Correct Use

Valium is one of the drugs prescribed most often in the United States. The drug is a "benzodiazepine", also known as a tranquilizer. It is most commonly used to treat episodes of anxiety as well as being popularly prescribed as a muscle relaxant to treat problems such as back pain. Valium is also prescribed for the treatment of alcohol addiction. However, for those going through treatment who may be vulnerable, valium can often be a pleasurable replacement that carries a high risk of addiction.

Valium should only be prescribed following a careful evaluation of the individual. For those being prescribed the drug, valium addiction abuse and issues related to the initial alcohol problem can cause disruption in overall treatment. Withdrawal from prolonged valium use can cause also cause issues.

Valium Addiction: Abuse Issues

Benzodiazepines, such as valium, suppress pain and anxiety symptoms for a limited time, usually only a few hours at best. When using valium as a pain reliever or as an aid in treating the symptoms of withdrawal from another drug, it's important to understand that the drug itself does not cure the cause of the pain or anxiety. Valium simply helps the body to cope with it. When the drug wears off, the anxiety or pain returns more often than not.

Addiction abuse or dependency on a prescription drug such as valium occurs due to the "rebound effect" of the drug. The user acquires a chemical dependency on the drug; in the addict using the drug to aid withdrawal, symptoms can be worse as a result. Often, dependency occurs when users don't follow prescription guidelines, either by taking more than the recommended doses or taking the drug for longer than was originally intended. What may start out as a course of drugs to help relieve pain over a matter of weeks can, for some, turn into an addiction after several years of repeated use.

The common effects of valium are well known, with sleepiness and clumsiness being the most commonly recognized. Valium addiction abuse carries with it issues surrounding withdrawal for those who are unfortunate enough to become addicted. The withdrawal symptoms of valium are similar to those observed in an individual who is withdrawing from alcohol or other barbiturates.

Watch for:

• Convulsions and tremors
• Vomiting and perspiration
• Abdominal pain

In situations where valium is legitimately prescribed and used under careful observation and assessment, complications such as addiction will be detected and dealt with early by the prescribing physician. In cases where valium is obtained by illegal or illegitimate methods, the individual will not be monitored and is likely to experience the symptoms above, particularly following prolonged use and possibly inappropriate doses.

Addiction Help

As with any drug or alcohol addiction, the success of withdrawal therapy depends on the severity of the addiction and the degree to which the addict is willing to comply with a treatment plan. The length of time the drug has been taken as well as the dosage used can alter the overall success of programs.

Common therapies include:

• Counseling: This is offered as a one-to-one service allowing addicts to accept and come to terms with the fact that they have an addiction. This often comes as somewhat of a surprise to individuals, particularly if they are taking the drug for a benign purpose such as pain relief.
• Group therapy: This allows addicts to understand that they are not alone in their struggle with addiction. Group therapy includes individuals at all stages of addiction and therapy, and it gives everyone the opportunity to see how others have managed to get through equally difficult challenges with their addiction.
• Residential programs: Residential therapy is often a last resort for addicts who have tried and failed to withdraw from valium addiction and possible addiction to other drugs used subsequent to the Valium. However, it can be a very successful therapy. It should be noted that addicts can often be easily tainted by external influences, such as contact with other users. Therefore, residential programs foster complete abstinence due to the controlled nature of the environment. People who choose to enter into residential therapy do so with the understanding that strict rules apply in order to maximize their chance of withdrawal success.

Valium addiction is viewed and taken as seriously as addiction to any illicit or illegal drug. For people who are addicted, it is often difficult for them to accept that they are an addict in the same way as someone addicted to heroin or cocaine. They often fail to accept this label. Receiving therapy with a group of people addicted to less "acceptable" drugs can often be a difficult hurdle to cross in the early stages of treatment.

The crucial step for people addicted to valium is to seek help as soon as they realize they are having difficulty coping with daily life. Only then can recovery begin.