Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment and Rehab

Rehab can help people struggling with benzodiazepine addiction. Learn about detox and withdrawal management to improve the chances of maintaining long-term sobriety.

Benzodiazepines (sometimes called “benzos”) are frequently prescribed to help people to manage anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia. Benzodiazepines are helpful and safe when used as prescribed. However, benzodiazepines can be habit-forming and addiction can occur when people misuse benzodiazepines by taking them excessively or by using them in ways other than as prescribed. People who misuse benzodiazepines can develop an addiction and significant medical issues. Benzodiazepines can be especially dangerous when taken with other substances, especially opioids.

Benzodiazepine addiction treatment is necessary to help a person to overcome their addiction to benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepine rehab facilities utilize medical personnel and mental health practitioners who work together to assess each client’s addiction.

Benzodiazepine Addiction Treatment Options

Benzodiazepines have a high abuse and dependence potential. Benzodiazepine addiction has a negative impact on a person’s daily functioning, especially as it pertains to academics, occupation and social relationships. Benzodiazepine rehab centers are essential for helping a person to safely stop taking benzodiazepines, especially since benzodiazepine withdrawal can be fatal if use is stopped suddenly.

Benzodiazepine addiction treatment helps individuals stop using benzodiazepines safely and prevents them from experiencing severe or life-threatening side effects. Detoxification is necessary to help a person overcome a benzodiazepine addiction. Benzo rehab offers detoxification that is medically supervised and allows a person to be consistently monitored as their usage is slowly tapered down. Rehab facilities can address and treat co-occurring mental health conditions and other substance use disorders. Rehab also teaches individuals about skills, strategies and healthy coping mechanisms to help them avoid benzodiazepine or other drug misuse in the future.

There are several different stages of benzodiazepine treatment options, including medical detox, residential rehab, outpatient rehab, dual diagnosis and aftercare and sober living. Passing through each consecutive phase of treatment helps a person to achieve the best chance for long-term sobriety.

Withdrawal from benzodiazepines can be intense, uncomfortable and dangerous. Medical detox offers supervision from medical personnel to help a person safely taper off benzodiazepines while avoiding intense and uncomfortable side effects. Benzo detox allows a person to be prescribed less powerful benzodiazepines in lower doses so that usage gradually decreases until it stops completely.

Residential rehab offers an inpatient option for detoxification. Benzo rehab centers allow people to leave negative environments, stress and triggers so that they can focus on their recovery. Benzo rehab provides people with constant care to address cravings, withdrawal symptoms or co-occurring conditions. Inpatient rehab for benzodiazepine addiction commonly lasts for 30 to 45 days but can vary based on individual factors. Inpatient rehab facilities offer complete assessment, treatment planning and medical care.

Benzodiazepine rehab can also occur on an outpatient basis, where individuals do not need to reside at a treatment facility. Outpatient benzodiazepine rehab centers are very similar to inpatient rehab facilities, as they assist people with safely tapering off benzodiazepines while managing aversive side effects. Outpatient rehabilitation offers people the chance to reside at home with their support systems while they receive treatment from medical and mental health professionals.

Dual diagnosis rehab centers help treat benzodiazepine addiction when there is another mental health or substance use disorder present. These facilities provide dual diagnosis treatment to address both conditions simultaneously. People who take benzodiazepines with other sedatives are at increased risk for serious medical problems and life-threatening conditions. Taking benzodiazepines with opioids is an extremely dangerous combination.

Drug rehab aftercare is essential with helping a person to maintain sobriety following treatment. Aftercare programs teach healthy coping skills, stress management techniques and healthy choices. Aftercare treatment helps to educate people on how to identify and avoid triggers that put them at risk of experiencing a setback. Continuing care after completing a structured form of treatment can helps a person achieve success.

Related Topic: Halfway Houses vs. Sober Homes

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Rehab

Benzodiazepine detoxification can take place in inpatient or outpatient settings depending on the level of severity, the risk of severe withdrawal and personal preference. Both inpatient addiction treatment and outpatient addiction treatment focuses on rehabilitation and detoxification but have slightly different characteristics.

Inpatient rehab is full-time, intensive and recommended for individuals struggling with severe addictions. Outpatient rehab facilities are part-time and allow a person to continue daily activities and responsibilities. Inpatient treatment facilities offer continuous medical and mental health support. They remove a person from distractions and triggers in their everyday lives. Inpatient rehab commonly has a higher success rate, although it can be more expensive and disruptive to someone’s social life than outpatient rehab is.

Outpatient treatment facilities are frequently recommended for individuals struggling with mild addiction and allow a person to receive treatment while maintaining their daily responsibilities and activities. Outpatient treatment allows a person to maintain structure and routine in addition to letting them stay close to their support systems. Although outpatient treatment generally has a lower success rate than inpatient treatment, it is less expensive and sometimes a more affordable option.

How Long Does Rehab Take?

When reviewing treatment options, it is common to question how long drug rehab lasts. There is no single answer. How long rehab for drugs lasts can depend on several factors and varies widely across individuals. Rehab treatment is specialized to the individual and the length of time a person is in treatment depends on the level of severity of their addiction along with the rate that progress is made. Treatment tends to take longer for those individuals struggling with more severe benzodiazepine addiction, or for those with co-occurring conditions.

Generally speaking, benzodiazepine treatment can last for several months if people go through the common stages of detoxification, inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation and aftercare. However, a person can conclude treatment quicker if they don’t need certain levels of care.

What Does Benzodiazepine Rehab Cost?

Rehab cost is another factor to consider when discussing treatment options for benzodiazepine addiction. The cost of rehab treatment is dependent on a person’s needs. Insurance can cover some costs, while other costs may be out-of-pocket expenses.

Although financial factors are important, it is important to seek treatment to detox safely rather than focusing on how much rehab costs. Engaging in detoxification that is rapid, done at home or completed without medical supervision can be very dangerous and potentially fatal. Payment plans, loans, grants and scholarships may be offered to help a person to offset any potential out of pocket costs or for those who cannot financially afford treatment.

Does Insurance Cover Rehab?

Health insurance plans generally cover addiction treatment, but types and length of coverage can vary widely. Rehab insurance can help a person cover costs associated with detoxification, treatment and medication.

Can I Go to Rehab Without Insurance?

There are several options for people who have to attend rehab without insurance coverage. State-funded rehab centers use government funds to provide detoxification and treatment for those who are low income or without insurance. Some rehabs are offered from faith-based groups, while other non-profit organizations can help people to obtain financial assistance or grants to attend rehab. Other treatment programs may provide sliding scale payments, loans or financing options.

Read more: Rehab in Florida Without Insurance

Choosing a Benzodiazepine Rehab Center

There are several factors to consider regarding how to choose a rehab center including:

What to Expect When You Go to Rehab

When going to rehab for benzo addiction, there are several elements that should be expected.
Detoxification and managing withdrawal symptoms are some of the first steps in rehab. The types of facilities can vary widely and can range from camp-like settings to extravagant facilities. Education on coping mechanism and skills is a key component of rehabilitation programs. Individual and group counseling will be offered for skill-building and support. Rehab programs typically offer aftercare programs to help a person to practice their skills, avoid triggers and maintain sobriety.

Rehab Rules

Drug rehab rules commonly forbid cell phone usage, forming romantic relationships with other group members and other restrictions. Total abstinence, consistent attendance and structured schedules are other rules that are typical in rehab.

What to Bring.

When considering what to bring to rehab, you can be assured that you will need clothing and toiletries, although treatment facilities tend to follow slightly different guidelines. You will also need important personal documents such as insurance and prescription cards, a valid form of identification and a credit card or cash. It is important to bring contact information for loved ones and any prescribed medications. People are usually encouraged to bring a journal or notebook, a sketchbook, reading material or other reflective hobbies for downtime.

What Happens After Rehab?

After rehab, an individualized aftercare treatment plan is developed for use after rehab concludes. Aftercare planning attempts to help a person to continue the momentum in their treatment, while helping them to use and practice skills and coping mechanisms that they have been taught in rehab. Aftercare plans usually include therapy appointments, affiliation with support groups and other interventions to help maintain sobriety.

How Rehab Improves Recovery

Rehab helps improve recovery, as it focuses on a person’s physical and psychological recovery. Rehab helps a person to detox from benzodiazepines, manage withdrawal symptoms and become stabilized. After stabilization, rehab helps a person to acquire the tools, skills, techniques and coping mechanisms to maintain sobriety following treatment. Rehab addresses and treats co-occurring conditions simultaneously and helps a person learn how to manage multiple conditions.