Benzodiazepine

= Benzodiazepines - Jessica Gamache = = = WHAT ARE BENZODIAZEPINES? Benzodiazepines are a group of psychoactive drugs which then fall into the depressant category. Benzodiazepines are made of one benzene ring and one diazepine ring. There are many brands of benzodiazepines, such as (just to name a few): Benzodiazepines are generally prescribed for anxiety and insomnia. However are used for others things such as: convulsions and relaxing.They are relatively safe and without overdose, results rarely in death. If a benzodiazepine is mixed with another substance, they can become lethal. No one should attempt to come off benzodiazepines without the supervision of a medical professional. There are many risks/withdrawal symptoms of benzodiazepines, such as: Benzodiazepines have more than one route of administration, such as: Benzodiazepines are generally used to treat panic disorders, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, insomnia, migraines, seizures, restless legs syndrome, tourettes syndrome as well as epilepsy. On the street benzodiazepines are rarely called by their pharmaceutical name but rather: Alternatives to benzodiazepines may include antidepressants, buspirone, anticonvulsants, antihypertensive agents as well as neuroleptic medications.
 * Xanax
 * Klonopin
 * Valium
 * Diazepam
 * Librium
 * Halcion
 * Ativan
 * etc.
 * Seizures
 * Perceptive distortions
 * Visual/Auditory hallucinations
 * Formication
 * Hypersensitivity
 * Delirium
 * Convulsions
 * Psychotic episodes
 * etc.
 * Oral
 * Snorting
 * Injection
 * Blotter Paper
 * Rectal
 * Benzos
 * Pins
 * Serries
 * Normies
 * K-pins
 * Rowies
 * V
 * Vals
 * Sleepers
 * Moggies
 * K-cuts
 * Tranks
 * Downers

ADDICTION TO BENZODIAZEPINES... Such a bad experience. It is said that an addiction to benzodiazepines is very dangerous and difficult to get back from. Detox from benzodiazepine addiction can be extremely life-threatening. It takes much longer to detox from benzodiazepines than any other drug. People who are going through detox are unbearably stressed, very uncomfortable and extremely agitated. Detox for benzodiazepines lasts approximately 28-30 days, which is nowhere near enough to combat an addiction to a prescription drug because of how the drug affects the brains neurochemistry.

Benzodiazepines affect the central nervous system and activates the brain's pleasure centers. Benzos are highly addictive in a physical and psychological manner and only after a few weeks of usage. One can quickly build tolerance to benzodiazepines therefore requiring more of the drug for the same effects. Benzodiazepines are very addictive because of how fast they act, within thirty minutes of taking the drug you feel the effect. The potential for abuse of benzodiazepines has increased because benzodiazepines have a high binding affinity and a short half-life. If someone is dependent on benzodiazepines, this will obstruct responsibilities such as: work, school and/or family. Often an addiction to benzodiazepines start out with peer-pressure or curiosity or self-medicating a mood disorder (examples: depression or personal trauma). Simply going through a program made to treat the dependency will help stop the cycle of addiction in a person.

Teens are adults are often the ones that abuse Benzodiazepines. They generally abuse them when they go to parties; drinking alcohol and taking the drug and/or another drug. A research done by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) shows that between the years of 1998 and 2008, the number of people who were admitted to the hospital for benzodiazepines practically tripled (men between the ages of 18 and 34 being the ones primarily admitted).

Someone who is addicted to benzodiazepines will behave in an abnormal way. When an addict is high on benzodiazepines they show multiple warning signs/indications:
 * Mania
 * Slurred Speech
 * Increased risk of Suicide
 * Panic Attack
 * Loss of libido
 * Dry Retching
 * Rage
 * Impaired coordination
 * Drowsiness
 * Aggression
 * Fatigue
 * Vertigo
 * Hostility
 * Memory problems
 * Agitation
 * Dizziness
 * Loss of relationship whether it be friend, family, lover, etc.
 * Psychosis
 * Career Collapses
 * etc.

Benzodiazepines are commonly combined with these drugs: When combining any of these drugs with benzodiazepines, Fatal Respiratory Depression (which the the inability to perform the needed oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange) can happen.
 * Other depressants such as Marijuana or alcohol (the substance the most reported for abuse with benzodiazepines)
 * Hallucinogenes such as LSD and Angel Dust(PCP)
 * Amphetamines such as Adderall and Dexedrine
 * Opiates such as Heroin and Morphine

Benzodiazepines addiction treatments do not exist, there are no pharmaceutical treatments available for benzodiazepines addictions or withdrawals. The most effective way of getting over an addiction to benzodiazepines is to gradually reduce the amount of drug you take. This will take an extend amount of time, however it is a lot safer than just abruptly stopping the drug. For benzodiazepines addiction, there are no "quick fixes", the treatment will more or less always be lengthy (depending on the person and their dosage and frequency of usage). If the drug user has been using the drug for a long time and has kept increasing the dose, the treatment length will be a lot longer than someone who has been taking the drug for a short amount of time and that hasn't been increasing the dose.

SOCIAL SERVICE WORKER's INVOLVEMENT As a social service worker, we have an obligation to help the people that come to us for help and as a social service worker, we will have to deal with situations like a benzodiazepine user or abuser coming to us for help. We will have the advantage of understanding what our client is feeling and going through; physically, mentally, emotionally and as a social service worker, we will understand that some people seek out drugs as a mean to cope with different situations and problems. When a client comes to a social service worker for help with a drug addiction, the social service worker will be there to support that person no matter what (unless its out of their competence), a social service worker will be there to help you over come the bad and the negative thoughts and help you replace them with good and positive thoughts. A social service worker will also provide a drug user/abuser with other ways to deal with the pain and problems they are facing. An addiction to benzodiazepine can completely ruin someone's life, in so many ways. The client could have lost their job, their family, their friends, and maybe they just feel like there is no one else there in the world to help them, until they go to a local social service agency and find a social service worker to help them with their issues and problems. We will guide you to the path you want to take and that will in the end make you a better and brighter person.

As a social service worker, treatments we could recommend for a user/abuser would be a detox centre or a group therapy program. The detox centre till the client feels as if though he is ready to go out into the world without the drug and a group therapy program for the tough times after the client leaves the detox centre and for those who are just struggling a little with the drugs. Group therapy helps clients take a more appropriate and active approach to their recovery and others recovery as well.