Looking through the various treatment options available to those with substance addiction can be overwhelming and intimidating, especially if your brain is clouded from an active substance use disorder. Choosing to deal with your chemical dependency takes courage and integrity, and we want you to have access to the kind of support system required for successful recovery from a benzodiazepine addiction.

At NuView Treatment Center, our evidence-based treatment assists patients in dealing with both substance addictions and the mental health disorders that often lie underneath the surface. Our clinical methods have been proven effective by research studies performed over decades. Recovery is very possible – and often it is a simple matter of reaching out to a quality outpatient drug rehab in LA and letting them guide you the rest of the way.

Personal Treatment for Addiction

NuView Treatment Center offers scientifically tested treatments to help individuals overcome a dependency on prescription drugs. Our center for addiction treatment West LA, where it is easy to develop a strong support community. Most importantly, our therapeutic programs are tailored to allow each person working through a substance abuse issue to feel at ease when discussing the reasons for their addiction. Whether addiction developed as a result of peer pressure, family influence or abuse we put emphasis on listening and having empathy for these individuals who often feel judged just for admitting they have an issue that requires addressing.

Research-Backed Approaches for Benzo Recovery

After a full assessment, we begin by administering treatment and care in a manner that’s tailored to each individual client. We use a wide range of evidence-based treatment modalities to reinforce the idea that recovery is a lifelong process and ensure quality of life post-treatment. Our staff strives to provide clients with tools to help them achieve overall good health over time. Our rehabilitation techniques include group therapy and support groups – both for family members and for clients themselves – as well as individual counseling for those who want to improve their understanding of themselves and address underlying causes.

Flexible and Accessible Recovery for Benzo Addiction

Our outpatient programs are tailor made to your situation. We provide numerous resources so that we can help you not just with the physical symptoms of your benzo addiction, but whatever challenges life is throwing at you at this exact moment. Through our monitoring and assessments we can evaluate any progress or changes that have taken place since the time we first met or spoke on the phone. This kind of flexibility helps us come up with a realistic treatment plan that lets us be flexible – but without sacrificing quality or intensity! Our goal is to meet clients where they are at this exact moment.

This means that if you are dealing with a Xanax addiction while working a job, going to school, or supporting a family, you can get the support you need while continuing to meet these commitments.

What is Benzo Addiction?

Benzodiazepines, a class of drug that is generally prescribed to treat anxiety disorders, can be very helpful to people who need them. Unfortunately, they are also widely abused. When taken recreationally, and even sometimes when taken as prescribed, it is possible to become addicted to this class of drug.

This class of medications includes brand name drugs like Xanax, which make people feel relaxed and calm. They can lower inhibitions and help people feel more confident in the same way that alcohol can. They also lead to notable feelings of pleasure and euphoria in some users. Many people take these pills illicitly in order to obtain these effects.

Commonly abused benzodiazepines include:

• diazepam (Valium)
• estazolam (Prosom)
• flurazepam (Dalmane)
• lorazepam (Ativan)
• alprazolam (Xanax)
• chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• clorazepate (Tranxene)

Unfortunately, when people take these medications, they develop a physical dependence on the drugs very quickly. This habit-forming medication can lead to physical dependence whether a person is taking it recreationally or following their doctor’s orders. However, the dangers are not just limited to physical dependence. Psychological dependence on the effects of anti-anxiety drugs can also develop very quickly. This can lead to dangerous life consequences, health problems, and even death.

This type of addiction can be extremely harmful if left untreated. Fortunately, with help from trained professionals, it is possible to completely recover from this debilitating substance use disorder.

How Does Benzo Addiction Happen?

Anxiety drug addiction occurs when a person experiences negative consequences from their abuse but is unable to stop taking the drug. It is possible for a person with a legitimate benzodiazepine prescription to develop an addiction.

This often begins with taking it in higher quantities or more frequently than prescribed. This kind of prescription drug misuse can be motivated by a desire to reduce negative symptoms of a mental health condition, or sometimes people are physically dependent on it.

In fact, even legitimate benzodiazepine use can very rapidly lead to physical dependence. For this reason, responsible physicians generally only prescribe them for short periods of time to treat acute symptoms. The longer a person remains on the drug, the higher their likelihood of developing physical dependence.

Some people develop some degree of physical dependence after only a few days, though with increased time and higher doses the severity of physical dependence will only increase. After only a short period of time, many people find that they are unable to function without them.

What are the Signs of Benzo Abuse and Addiction?

Benzodiazepine abuse leads very rapidly to a number of physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms. Over time, when substance abuse turns into full-fledged addiction, these consequences can become even more severe. It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of a sedative use disorder before it becomes life threatening or destroys a person’s livelihood.

Most people who are abusing anxiety medications, or any other recreational drug, go to great lengths to hide their abuse from friends and family members. Nonetheless, regular prescription drug abuse will always be detectable by a keen observer. Substance abuse in general, and benzos in particular, cause people to engage in uncharacteristic behaviors. These behaviors include:

• Engaging in uncharacteristic behaviors in order to obtain or pay for anxiety drugs, such as stealing, borrowing money, maxing out credit cards, or draining bank accounts
• Working to ensure that they always have a supply of the drug on hand, due to fear of withdrawal
• Disconnecting from obligations and commitments to family and friends in order to get high
• Paying less attention to personal appearance, grooming, or hygiene
• Spending more and more time and energy to obtain drugs, use them, or recover from using them
• Engaging in risky or dangerous activities after using prescription drugs
• Experiencing extreme shifts in personality or mood
• Being increasingly secretive or lying in order to hide substance abuse patterns

Do I Have a Benzo Addiction?

If you regularly take this medication for fun, or if you find yourself unable to function without them, you have a problem. Since anxiety medications like Xanax and Ativan are prescription drugs, addicts often go to great lengths to get legitimate prescriptions. One method of doing this, known as “doctor shopping,” involves seeing multiple doctors in order to increase the chances of getting numerous active prescriptions. If you are devoting time and energy to seeing multiple doctors in order to obtain Xanax or related medications, especially if doctors have refused to prescribe them to you in the past, there is a good likelihood that you need help.

Unfortunately, many people are undereducated about the drugs they are taking. In fact, physicians who prescribe benzodiazepines often fail to mention that the medications are very habit-forming. Some patients are under the impression that they are at no risk simply because the medication they’re taking is both legal and doctor-approved. The reality is that all benzodiazepines can lead to addiction.

How Can I Help Someone with a Benzo Addiction?

If your family member, friend, or loved one is abusing anxiety medications, they are likely to be experiencing a range of debilitating symptoms on a regular basis. You can tell if someone is abusing anti-anxiety medication because they will often act without concern for risk. They wlll also prioritize obtaining these drugs over other activities in their lives – even important commitments like family, work, or school. If you suspect someone in your life has an addiction, you can play a pivotal role in getting them the help they need. However, it is always important to approach them with sensitivity and understanding.

Don’t think you’ll be able to solve their problem immediately. As a trusted person, you can contribute to their recovery simply by being honest about your concern. This does not mean making moral statements or being judgmental. It just means showing that you care – and that you’ve witnessed first hand the harmful consequences of prescription drug abuse in your loved one’s life. More likely than not, they’ve noticed these consequences themself. Be open-minded and listen to what they have to say.

Beyond expressing concern, the second way you can be of help is by encouraging them to take concrete steps toward getting sober. Supporting them on their recovery journey doesn’t mean forcing them to get sober. It means supporting their desire to get sober, which is probably already there, even if it is somewhat buried or denied at times.

Lastly, you can be a critical resource by making yourself aware of what treatment options are available. People who are addicted to anxiety medications are not always mentally at full capacity, so your ability to do the research may come in very handy. Try to get educated on benzo addiction and what recovery for this type of substance use disorder looks like. Have some quality addiction treatment programs in mind that you can recommend. Understand that your loved one’s recovery will likely be a rocky and possibly long process, but that your support can make all the difference.

How Is Benzo Addiction Treated?

Anxiety drugs like Xanax and Ativan are part of a powerful class of medication. By the time a person has begun to suffer the consequences of physical dependence, they generally need professional help from a high quality rehab. Drug treatment facilities vary in terms of what levels of care they offer.

NuView Treatment Center offers a wide range of outpatient programs for individuals who are working to quit abusing prescription drugs and rebuild their lives. Outpatient programs, unlike residential treatment programs, have the unique advantage of allowing clients to work their jobs, live at home, go to their classes, and live their normal lives – all while pursuing recovery.

The most critical component of benzo addiction treatment comes at the very beginning. Physical dependence on this type of medication can be far stronger than other drugs. Withdrawing from anxiety drugs is not only difficult, but it is also dangerous. It may come as a surprise to learn that withdrawing from them is even more dangerous than withdrawing from opioids. Unsupervised and rapid withdrawal can even be fatal. For this reason, the initial stage of addiction treatment involves developing a plan for getting off of the drugs in the first place.

Generally, it is not wise for an addict to simply quit the medication cold turkey. Not only can this lead to potentially dangerous withdrawal symptoms, but it is also likely to cause intense cravings and therefore increase the possibility of relapse. During addiction treatment at NuView Treatment Center, trained physicians supervise the process of slowly withdrawing from benzos. This process, known as tapering, is far smoother, though not entirely symptom-less. This makes it easier for clients to focus on developing the skills they need for long term sobriety.

Even though drug addiction is a physical affliction, long term sobriety is only possible for people who address the underlying reasons for their drug abuse. If people do not get to the root causes of their desire for benzos, it is highly likely they will return to their previous habits even after going through the arduous process of withdrawing. For this reason, quality outpatient rehabs focus on improving clients’ mental health, relationships, lifestyles, and even career prospects. This way, they can begin to lead sober lives that they value.

How Do Outpatient Programs Help Benzo Addicts?

When a client with a benzodiazepine addiction comes to NuView Treatment Center for help, a caseworker will develop a treatment plan that is individually tailored to their unique needs. Most outpatient sessions involve a mixture of group therapy and one-on-one counseling. The clinical staff at NuView Treatment Center is well-versed in a wide variety of different methodologies for treatment. This ensures that treatment is never one-size-fits-all. All treatment plans at NuView Treatment Center incorporate research-backed and evidence-based therapeutic methods. These include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Dialectical behavioral therapy
• Group therapy
• Family therapy
• Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• Medication monitoring
• Individual therapy
• Fitness and health education
• Mindfulness, yoga, and meditation activities
• Career and education planning
• 12-step programs and 12-step alternatives
• Drug education
• Relapse prevention training
• Urine tests to ensure abstinence

Complementary and Alternative therapies

Patients suffering from benzo addiction treatment also often benefit when their treatment plans incorporate alternative and holistic treatment modalities. The desire to abuse anxiety drugs can stem from a combination of psychological and physical conditions that require a broad range of therapies to correct.

In addition to conventional substance abuse treatment, drug rehab at NuView Treatment Center often also includes:

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Nutritional programs
• Fitness programs
• Art therapy
• Sound therapy

All prescription drugs, but benzodiazepines in particular, can have long-term effects on a person’s brain chemistry and can weaken their ability to produce dopamine naturally. The therapies can help accelerate the process of rewiring the brain and can help stimulate “feel good” neurotransmitters such as dopamine and endorphins naturally.

What Types of Outpatient Programs Are Offered for Benzo Addiction?

Depending on the intensity of a person’s prescription drug addiction and on their flexibility, they may be better suited to certain levels of care. NuView Treatment Center, located in West Los Angeles, offers a range of options for people seeking relief from the vicious cycle of Xanax abuse.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

Partial hospitalization programs provide the highest level of care for benzo addiction treatment. These programs are demanding and are the ideal choice for an individual whose addiction to anti-anxiety medications has made it difficult for them to function. NuView’s PHP program is both supportive and highly structured so that people can begin to rebuild their lives. The PHP program meets most days of the week for approximately half a day,which allows clients to benefit from both psychiatric help and medical support. Caseworkers coordinate with psychiatrists and trained clinicians to get patients off benzos so that they can begin to take initial steps toward living sober and productive new lives.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

One of our most intensive levels of care, IOPs work to treat the fundamental causes that lead to addiction. Clients engage in regular group therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy sessions for several hours a week as well as skill-training workshops. These clients learn how to identify relapse triggers and develop new coping mechanisms so they can avoid reacting in those moments when they are tempted by drugs or alcohol. At the same time, clients take daily steps toward developing strong support systems. Having strong support systems makes sobriety far more sustainable as well as more enjoyable in the long run.

Evening Intensive Outpatient Program (Evening IOP)

Recovery should complement your life, not take it over! Our Evening IOP is a practical alternative to our traditional IOP. It provides the same quality of clinical support, but without requiring clients’ lives to be put on hold. Many people with addictions have demanding jobs and busy class loads; they also have families waiting at home for them. Treatment should complement these commitments and even help people handle them better! NuView Treatment Center prides itself on offering programs for benzodiazepine addiction that are flexible in terms of scheduling options, so that you can attend your daytime classes or work a regular work shift.

Outpatient Program (OP)

NuView’s outpatient program is a great option for those who are transitioning from one of our higher levels of care. With the demands on people’s lives in recovery, it can be important to continue receiving supportive clinical services. For people recovering from addiction to anxiety medications, NuView provides outpatient therapy addressing daily changes, occasional cravings and inevitable challenges at every stage of sobriety. Clinical staff members are highly trained with years of experience treating substance abuse disorders. Our staff excel in compassion as well, always putting the well-being of clients and their families first.

How Can I Afford Benzo Addiction Treatment?

Addiction is a serious and medically recognized mental health disorder. It is listed in the DSM-5 as “substance use disorder,” and all conditions in the DSM-5 are covered by health insurance companies. In fact, it is illegal for health insurance companies to deny coverage for mental health conditions. NuView Treatment Center has relationships with the vast majority of common health care plans. Getting the best possible care during your recovery process is accessible and affordable.

Substance use disorders can make it difficult to sort out your insurance or financial situation. The good news for you is NuView Treatment Center may be able to help you out with your insurance coverage. Our staff is experienced at dealing with the ins and outs and health care plans, and we are more than prepared to help you find a way to make recovery work for you – so that you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

How Does NuView Treatment Center Support Families?

The effects of addiction extend beyond the person taking it. Almost everyone in their life becomes affected by the behavior of their addicted loved one. Addition runs in families, through a combination of genetics and upbringing factors, so NuView Treatment Center places strong emphasis on family support during rehabilitation through regular meetings and workshops.

We host regular meetings and workshops for families so that they can have the opportunity to work on their addiction. These meetings allow family members a chance to network with others who are going through similar situations, learn new skills, develop coping mechanisms and more. Above all else though, one of the most important things is learning how your own needs can be met while being supportive of someone in recovery or experiencing addiction- something which benefits both you and your loved ones.

Life After Benzo Addiction

Quitting anti-anxiety medications can be overwhelming. At NuView’s physical rehabs, we’re here to support you each step of the way so that you can get your life back on track again after struggling with addiction for so long. Our staff at outpatient programs will be there to give you additional support as well as provide ample opportunity to develop skills and discipline in order to avoid relapse. You’ll also come across a wide variety of new opportunities such as gaining better relationships with family members, getting back in touch with old colleagues, and having the chance to discover new hobbies while increasing positive self-esteem and learning how to embrace life all over again.

This time might seem long, but it is well worth it if the result is long-term sobriety. Living a life that you value will offer you highs along with these lows. Momentary tough times will be quickly forgotten when the better ones come rolling in. You must hold on to the good times and keep them close to your heart, even as you work towards getting out from under the fog of your addiction. That way, when you are more than halfway done with your outpatient program, you’ll be able to reflect on this challenging period as part of an important fork in the road — a choice between continuing with your addiction or ending it for good and finding true happiness within yourself.

With that in mind, we find that continuing to support individuals long after they’ve moved on from our outpatient program is highly important. In fact, many of them stay in touch with other alumni members who may be going through similar experiences. There is also an added benefit when alumni offer their time and energy to help current clients. Even years into sobriety, the growth never ceases.