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Prescription medication can be just as addictive as street drugs and illicit substances – and valium is no exception.
Drug addiction can quickly take over your life if you don’t receive the right addiction treatment. Not only can addiction have negative consequences on your physical health, but your mental health too.
Addiction can impact your relationships, finances, career – pretty much all aspects of your life. Likewise, addiction rarely only affects the person with the addiction – it affects friends, family and loved ones too. This is why it’s so important to seek treatment for valium addiction.
This is something that we can help with at Help4Addiction. At Help4Addiction, we can find the right valium rehab clinic for you and your situation and source the best valium addiction treatment. Read on to learn more about valium addiction and the valium rehab process.
What is Valium?
Valium is a branded version of diazepam – a prescription medication used to treat a range of medical issues – for example, to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, or seizures.
Some people may also be prescribed Valium to relieve alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Valium treatment can also be administered to people in order for them to relax before an operation or medical procedure.
Valium belongs to a group of medications known as benzodiazepines, which includes Xanax, Librium, Ativan and temazepam, among others. It is only available on prescription – but that being said, it’s not uncommon for people to illegally source the drug.
Typically, Valium comes in pill form and is taken orally. Some other forms of Valium include a liquid that you swallow or a rectal tube. Valium can also be administered via injection, but this is only done under medical supervision in hospitals.
Valium works through the central nervous system. It can leave you feeling calm and relaxed, as Valium increases GABA effects in your brain.
Ultimately, this reduces certain activity in certain areas of your brain – areas responsible for controlling memory, thoughts, and emotions, as well as life-supporting functions such as breathing.
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Valium Addiction Explained
Valium, like other prescription drugs, can be addictive – and you may need a helping hand to beat the addiction. Some signs of diazepam addiction or dependence can include (substance use disorder):
- Feeling unable to control how much Valium you take
- Taking more Valium than prescribed
- Souring Valium from anywhere other than medical professionals
- Taking the drug despite the negative effects
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you lower the dose or stop taking it
- Craving Valium
- Relapsing when trying to stop taking the drug
At Help4Addiction, we can find the right place for you to receive treatment for your Valium addiction. We can connect you with the best Valium rehab clinic in your local area, giving you the best chances of living a drug-free life.
Valium Withdrawal Symptoms
If you develop a physical dependence on Valium and you stop taking the drug suddenly (e.g you quit cold turkey), or you drastically lower your typical dose, then you’ll likely experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Valium withdrawal symptoms can include physical withdrawal symptoms, psychological withdrawal symptoms, and behavioural withdrawal symptoms.
The severity of the withdrawal process can vary depending on a range of factors; most prominently, the severity of your Valium addiction.
Some physical withdrawal symptoms include:
- Aches and pains
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle spasms
- Hand tremors
- Sweating
- Blurred vision
- Seizures
Some behavioural Valium withdrawal symptoms include:
- Feeling restless
- Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
- Feeling delirious
- Memory problems
And some psychological symptoms include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Panic attacks
- Hallucinations
Withdrawing from prescription drugs without help can be dangerous, and Valium withdrawal is no exception. At Help4Addiciton, we can source the best Valium detox program for you.
What Counts As Prescription Drug Abuse?
Although certain medications can be prescribed by a doctor, they can still be dangerous – and can be abused, just like illicit substances can. However, following your doctor’s instructions when taking prescription drugs is sure to lower the risk.
Prescription drug refers to taking prescribed medication in any way other than prescribed by a doctor. This may include taking more than prescribed, mixing with other drugs, taking prescribed medication to feel ‘high’, and more.
Taking too much diazepam can be dangerous – it can lead to suicidal thoughts, hallucinations, seizures, and risk-taking behaviour.
The two main risks of substance abuse are developing an addiction and physical dependence and having a drug overdose. Valium abuse can lead to an overdose, which can be fatal. This is why it’s so important to recognise the signs of a Valium overdose.
Some signs of an overdose from Valium include:
- Abdominal pain
- Discolouration of fingertips, lips, or nails
- Impaired vision
- Lack of alertness
If you notice these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately. Certain factors can increase the risk of having an overdose. For example, combining diazepam with other drugs or with alcohol, taking a dangerously high dose, or taking it for a longer period than prescribed.
Inpatient vs Outpatient Valium Rehab
There are many different forms of rehab – for example, outpatient treatment, inpatient treatment, quasi-residential rehab, private rehab, luxury rehab, and NHS-operated rehab.
This means it can be difficult to determine the best treatment options for you. However, it’s much easier when you know the difference between inpatient valium rehab and outpatient rehab.
If you undergo outpatient rehab, you’ll reside at home and travel to your regularly-scheduled rehab sessions. Outpatient rehabilitation is an attractive option for people who don’t wish to miss work or take up their annual leave.
However, as an inpatient, you’ll reside in a rehab facility and attend rehab sessions in the same place. Your meals will also be provided for you. You’ll also receive round-the-clock care, which can be extremely beneficial if you have a severe addiction.
Although it’s possible to get residential rehab on the NHS, it won’t be luxury rehab. You should also expect long wait times – whereas if you opt for private rehab, you can expect a place within a couple of days.
If you’re wondering how long rehab takes, it can vary from person to person – however, you’ll often have the option to extend your stay if necessary.
Valium Addiction Treatment: The Process
Addiction treatment can vary from clinic to clinic – and the process often depends on the addiction being treated. However, whether it’s Valium addiction, alcohol addiction, or any other substance addiction, the three core rehab stages remain the same.
At Help4Addiction, we can find the right local drug treatment service for you and inform you about the addiction rehab treatment process. Whether you’re looking for medically-assisted treatment with medical professionals, dual diagnosis treatment, or solely a drug detox, we are on hand to help.
Continue reading to learn more about Valium detoxification, addiction therapy, and secondary treatment.
Valium Detoxification
The first stage of Valium addiction treatment involves a Valium detox – which aims at removing the physical addiction to the drug.
When you’re detoxing from Valium, you may experience withdrawal symptoms – some of which can be especially uncomfortable. This is why many people wish to undergo medical detox/medically assisted detox – under the supervision of medical professionals.
The length of time it takes to detox from Valium can vary – but factors such as your age, height, weight, and personal experiences can determine the detox timeline.
Detoxification alone doesn’t address the psychological aspects of addiction – this is something that is explored during addiction therapy.
Valium Addiction Therapy
Therapy can not only treat mental health disorders but can also be effective in treating addiction. Many forms of therapy can be administered during rehab – however, the most common therapies include CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), group therapy, family therapy, and counselling.
Private rehab clinics may have more therapy options available – for example, holistic therapiessuch as art therapy or sports therapy.
Addiction therapy aims at building your confidence, improving your general sense of well-being, providing you with valuable coping skills and strategies, and giving you insight into your addiction.
Secondary Treatment
The transition from rehab back to your everyday life can be tough, and you may feel tempted to continue taking Valium. This is why secondary treatment, also known as aftercare, is so important.
The secondary treatment provides you with ongoing support throughout the recovery process. This can include telephone support, online support, further counselling or therapy, as well as support groups.
Just like with any addiction, if you have a Valium addiction, you could relapse. With secondary support, it should feel easier to get back on your feet and rejoin the recovery journey.
About Author
Nicholas Conn
Nicholas Conn is a leading industry addiction expert who runs the UK’s largest addiction advisory service and is regularly featured in the national press, radio and TV. He is the founder and CEO of a drug and alcohol rehab center called Help4addiction, which was founded in 2015. He has been clean himself since 2009 and has worked in the Addiction and Rehab Industry for over a decade. Nick is dedicated to helping others recover and get treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. In 2013, he released a book ‘The Thin White’ line that is available on Amazon.
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