What is Valium and how can it lead to devastating addiction? In fact, Valium is the brand name version of diazepam, a benzodiazepine. Benzos, like Valium, slow activity in the brain as sedatives or tranquilizers. However, doctors prescribe Valium for anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and insomnia, but people abuse Valium for its pleasant relaxation effects.
The Federal Controlled Substances Act claims Valium has low potential for abuse. The DEA classifies Valium as a Class IV substance for this reason. However, many people seek Valium specifically for recreational abuse.
What is Valium Prescribed to Treat?
Doctors prescribe Valium to treat anxiety, sleeplessness, and alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Moreover, it’s also used to sedate people before some medical procedures. The drug causes slight amnesia. This means these people remember nothing of their medical experience, such as surgery.
Other reasons why doctors prescribe Valium include:
- Benzo withdrawal
- Meniere’s disease
- Muscle spasms
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Panic attacks
- Neurological diseases
- Seizures and tremors
What is Valium Abused For?
People abuse Valium for its pleasant high. Furthermore, this recreational use calms them, often self-medicating symptoms of undiagnosed anxiety. People also abuse Valium for better sleep, loss of inhibition, relaxation, and “social lubrication.”
Unfortunately, abusing Valium often leads to addiction. This addiction starts with taking a larger dose of Valium than you need. It also begins when you take the drug more often than prescribed.
Tolerance begins before addiction, making you need more of the drug to feel its effects. When taking more Valium, you easily glide into addiction. After addiction begins, you suffer ill effects of withdrawal when trying to quit using the drug.
In 2011 and 2012, just under 7,300 people entered addiction treatment for Valium each year. In fact, this is more than seven times the number of people entering treatment for the same drug in 2003. That year, only 1,023 people accepted Valium addiction help. However, Valium addiction accounts for less than 10 percent of all benzo rehab entries.
Benzo Treatment in Havre de Grace, Maryland
In Havre de Grace, Maryland, Ashley Addiction Treatment provides detox and rehab for recovery from benzo addiction. If you suffer addiction to Valium, take the next step into the treatment you deserve.
For example, addiction treatment programs at Ashley include:
- Onsite detox
- Primary care
- Young adult program
- Young adult extended care, for males ages 18 to 25
- Relapse treatment
- Pain recovery
Call Ashley Addiction Treatment now at 866-313-6307. Your better life in recovery awaits with our supportive and caring staff.