Rehab Centers for Benzodiazepine Addiction

Benzodiazepines are powerful sedatives often prescribed to treat anxiety disorders and insomnia. While beneficial for short-term use, when taken long-term, in higher doses or misused in other ways, they can lead to dependency and addiction.

Once someone develops benzodiazepine addiction, also known as a benzodiazepine use disorder, it can be difficult for them to stop taking the drug. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can result in severe symptoms that make stopping suddenly dangerous and even life-threatening.

Fortunately, rehab programs are available to help people stop taking benzos, such as Xanax (diazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Valium (diazepam) and Klonopin (clonazepam), safely and comfortably. Read on to learn more about how to recognize when you need a benzodiazepine rehab program, what happens during rehab and program costs.

Benzodiazepine misuse, sometimes referred to as benzo abuse, can be difficult to overcome, and many people benefit from the structured care that an addiction rehab program can provide. Many addiction treatment centers can also help people with co-occurring disorders, such as anxiety or depression.

One of the strongest indicators of benzo misuse is mixing benzos with other substances or prescription drugs. Not only is this behavior dangerous, but it can also result in both drugs enhancing each other’s addictive effects.

Warning signs that you may need benzodiazepine rehab treatment include:

• Inability to cut back or stop despite experiencing negative effects in your life
• Needing escalating doses to experience the desired effects
• Needing benzos to feel like yourself or to feel “normal”
• Experiencing strong cravings and other withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop or in between doses
• Mixing benzos with alcohol, opioids, sleep medications or other substances
• Experiencing functional impacts, such as memory issues, impaired driving, falls or accidents, relationship problems or issues at work or school
• Hiding benzo use or minimizing it because you have a prescription

Because of the effects that benzos can have on your central nervous system, withdrawal and recovery call for careful monitoring. While not all rehab centers and treatment programs are the same, they all work to provide the tools you need to create a safe path to recovery and stability.

Steps in the benzodiazepine rehab process include:

1. Intake and assessment: During this evaluation, clinicians go over your physical health, mental health, relapse risk and drug use history in detail.
2. Individualized treatment planning: You’ll receive a customized treatment plan that considers your triggers and symptoms, as well as any stress or bedtime anxiety you’re experiencing.
3. Detoxification: Depending on the severity of the addiction, you may require medical detox with the support of monitoring to help you get through the withdrawal period.
4. Evidence-based treatments: These treatments include therapy, skill building, education, medication management and integrated support for co-occurring mental health disorders.
5. Aftercare support: At the end of the benzodiazepine rehab process, you’ll prepare for transitioning back into the community with continuing care, relapse prevention and outpatient support.

Benzo detox is the first phase of benzodiazepine addiction rehab. It helps with benzo withdrawal management to keep you safe and comfortable as you stabilize and discontinue benzo use.

Potential benzodiazepine withdrawal effects include:

• Anxiety or panic attacks
• Depression or mood swings
• Headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Insomnia
• Dizziness
• Brain fog

People can also experience more severe benzo withdrawal symptoms, which can also be dangerous. Symptoms such as confusion, hallucinations and seizures can be life-threatening in certain instances. Because of this, medical supervision is vital when people are detoxing from benzos.

Detox isn’t a standalone treatment for benzo addiction, as getting sober usually isn’t enough to truly recover from benzodiazepine use disorder. It’s meant to support the transition into deeper rehab programming.

The treatment options and approaches for benzodiazepine addiction are usually evidence-based and chosen based on an individual’s personal needs and the severity of their addiction. Co-occurring disorders are also taken into consideration when deciding on treatments.

Common benzodiazepine rehab therapies and treatment methods include:

• Matrix Model benzo treatment: This is a structured and time-limited approach that combines psychoeducation, therapy and relapse prevention skills to help people deal with their anxiety and stress in healthier ways.
• Behavioral therapy: It helps people identify their anxiety-centered thought patterns and behaviors related to benzodiazepine use and replace them with healthier ones. Behavioral therapy can include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
• Addiction counseling: Individual therapy focuses on addressing triggers, building motivation for recovery and learning strategies to prevent relapse.
• Recovery support groups: Peer support groups are often facilitated by professionals and allow people to share their experiences and support each other through recovery.

Benzodiazepine rehab length depends on the severity of addiction and the amount of progress being made. However, programs generally last 30, 60 or 90 days. Longer-term residential care programs are available for people with a high risk of relapse and those who need further care for other reasons.

Types of rehab programs include:

• Inpatient programs: Residential rehab provides a high amount of structure and 24/7 supervision and support, as you’ll live on-site during treatment.
• Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs): People in PHPs receive care for several hours at a time, up to 5 days per week, but live at home.
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs): IOPs involve receiving care a few days per week for several hours, but they have more flexibility and less supervision than PHPs.
• Outpatient programs: People in these programs can schedule and attend counseling and support groups at their convenience, although regular attendance is encouraged.

Many people choose to start with inpatient treatment and then step down into a PHP or IOP after completing their program. Once they’re ready to transition back into real life, they can step down into traditional outpatient care.

The transition period after rehab can be a difficult time as you find yourself facing triggers and challenges that might’ve led you to use benzos in the past. These can include sleep disruptions or situations that trigger stress and anxiety. For this reason, aftercare services are often recommended when transitioning back to regular life.

Forms of aftercare include:

• Sober living after benzodiazepine rehab: Sober living is transitional housing that provides a safe and sober environment.
• Continuing care for benzodiazepine addiction: This type of outpatient care can include individual counseling to help you manage your substance use and support groups to provide accountability as you move forward in recovery.

You may also benefit from making certain lifestyle changes and building healthy routines to help with stress management, sleep hygiene and emotion regulation.

Relapse prevention means having an actionable plan to help you manage triggers and respond appropriately when relapse warning signs appear. Common triggers for benzo misuse include insomnia, stressful life changes or panic attack symptoms.

Helpful relapse prevention strategies include:

• Following a safe tapering plan under the direction of a health care professional to avoid rushing detox
• Removing all unused pills from your environment and asking loved ones to do the same
• Using nervous system healing practices, such as yoga, deep breathing and walking
• Establishing clear boundaries with family members and friends about your medication use going forward
• Addressing any slip-ups that occur immediately so you don’t return to daily use.

As always, when relapses happen, it’s important to be kind to yourself and to use them as learning experiences as you move forward. Relapse is never a sign of failure or that going through treatment wasn’t the right choice.

The costs of benzo rehab may seem intimidating, but your health insurance may cover many of these expenses. However, depending on your coverage, you may need to use an in-network treatment provider. Review your plan or contact your insurance provider to verify your coverage.

Factors that affect the cost of benzodiazepine rehab include:

• Level of care
• Length of stay
• Location
• Program features and amenities
• Types of insurance accepted

At the end of the day, rehab program costs shouldn’t be your only consideration. Many benzodiazepine addiction treatment centers offer financial assistance or payment plans to make benzo rehab more affordable. It’s even possible to find free and low-cost options through churches and community nonprofit organizations.

Before entering a rehab program for benzodiazepine abuse, it’s important to understand that rehab isn’t a one-time cure for addiction. It offers a structured reset that can help you gain stability and skills you can use for the rest of your life.

Success in rehab means much more than simply achieving sobriety. Long-term benzo recovery also requires sustained behavioral change, improved daily functioning and stronger relapse prevention skills over time.

For the highest chances of success, continuing care is essential for maintaining progress and avoiding relapse. You also need a strong support system that includes friends, family and recovery networks to achieve long-lasting sobriety.

Benzo addiction treatment should take place in a professional setting due to the potentially dangerous nature of these drugs and their withdrawal symptoms. In addition to keeping people safe during detox, there are several other benefits that benzo addiction treatment centers can provide.

Advantages of benzodiazepine rehab addiction treatment include:

• Structured support for benzo misuse and an environment where people can’t access drugs or alcohol
• Daily routines that promote recovery and healing
• Learning skills to help manage cravings and stress in healthy ways rather than using benzos
• A community of peers that can provide support and accountability
• On-site medical professionals to assist in cases of emergency
• Treatment for co-occurring disorders, such as depression and anxiety, that were contributing to past patterns of misuse
• Improved safety and overall quality of life over time
• Aftercare planning to help people prepare for the transition period after completing rehab

Reaching out for help isn’t always easy, especially when your benzo use is closely tied to a mental health condition and your ability to function. If you or someone you love has a benzodiazepine addiction, it’s important to get help as soon as possible.

Help.org is a free and confidential resource that can help you find rehab centers in your area, including those with specialized programs for benzodiazepine abuse.