With the flagrant use of prescription drugs these days the number of those who are addicted to benzodiazepines, also known as, Benzos or BZD, has risen significantly. This type of drug addiction is very serious and cause long term damage and can even result in death. This is why it is important for those with a Benzo abuse problem to seek benzo medical detox and get their lives back on track.
What Is It?
Benzodiazepine is classified as a psychoactive drug. It was first discovered in 1955 in the form of chlordiazepoxide (Librium), by 1960 it was made readily available and was marketed by Hoffman-La Roche which also marketed Valium as diazepam. It is a depressive drug that enhances the effect of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid. For this reason it is used as a sedative, a sleep agent, anti-anxiety med, anticonvulsant, as well as a muscle relaxant.
Other Forms of Benzos
Aside from Valium, and Librium, other forms of benzodiazepines include Ativan and Xanax. These types of drugs are typically used to treat anxiety and insomnia. However, due to the tranquilizing effect that they cause they are extremely easy to abuse. Taking them over a short period of time is not so dangerous, but long term use and abuse is very dangerous and can even be fatal, in the case of Whitney Houston and Leslie Carter (the sister of Aaron and Nick Carter) who passed away at the age of 25.
Effects
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a street drug or a prescription drug; drugs effect the body the same way. A substance abuse to any type of drug can wreak havoc on the body. Ativan, Valium, and Xanax act the same way, and at times are even more dangerous because people think they’re ok to use. Some side effects of abuse of Benzos include; dizziness, clumsiness, insomnia, unsteady gait, irritability, disorientation, depression, headaches, vision problems, nausea, abdominal pain, drowsiness, tachycardia, disinhibition and overall weakness. Sometimes anterograde amnesia occurs as well. Anterograde amnesia is the inability to form new memories after the event that caused the amnesia. This leads to a partial or complete inability to recall the recent past, however memories formed before the event are unaffected.
What Is Being Done?
Although the government and drug regulating agencies are trying to crack down on those doctors that are a little too ‘free’ with their prescription pads, prescription drug use is still a huge problem in the United States. This problem also has a major impact on teens as well; teens now have access to prescription drugs from their parents or other family member’s medicine cabinets. In some cases parents even innocently give their child a dose to help them at a certain point. This creates an unhealthy attitude toward Benzos and prescription drugs in general. The rule should be if it’s not yours, it’s not safe.