Category: therapy

Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that interacts with the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) to produce intense feelings of euphoria and energy. Cocaine is a manufactured drug created using the leaves of the coca plant native to South America. Cocaine is processed into a fine white powder that is commonly consumed by snorting it into the nose; however, it can be rubbed onto the gums, smoked, or mixed with liquid and injected into the veins. 

In 2018, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health data indicated cocaine was the second most common drug associated with fatalities in the United States that year. The effects of cocaine are immediate and intense, yet they are not long-lasting. The short-lived nature of the impact of the drug leads many people to come back for more frequent and often more substantial doses. For many who struggle with a cocaine addiction, achieving sobriety and recovery are challenging without detox and comprehensive addiction treatment. 

Signs of Cocaine Addiction

Cocaine use leads to physical and psychological effects on the user. To better understand if you or a loved one should seek treatment for cocaine use, it is necessary to understand the signs and symptoms of cocaine addiction. Chronic, long-term cocaine use can lead to significant physical and psychological health risks. Some of the most common signs you may notice immediately after using cocaine include excessive energy, runny nose, improved concentration, dilated pupils, appetite changes, and paranoia. These symptoms generally wear off after a very short time, typically no more than 30 minutes.

As you begin to develop a tolerance to cocaine and an addiction to the effects of the drug, larger and more frequent doses are often required to attain the same high you achieved when you first began using. As cocaine use becomes more regular and the dosing size increases, cocaine can start to have irreversible and overwhelmingly detrimental effects on the body. Examples of common physical effects include headaches, increased blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, chills, seizures, heart attack, stroke, and death. Psychological effects of chronic cocaine use may include significant mood changes and difficulties with memory and focus.

The extent and severity of the long-term effects of cocaine use depend on the severity of one’s addiction. The more often and the more frequently you use cocaine, the more likely you are to develop potentially life-threatening symptoms and side effects from its use. Chronic use of cocaine will eventually lead to detrimental and often irreversible effects on vital, life-sustaining body systems, including the brain, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and gastrointestinal system.

How Cocaine Recovery Treatment Works

If you are concerned you or a loved one may have a cocaine addiction, it is vital to seek addiction treatment help immediately. Long-term untreated cocaine addiction can be fatal. Cocaine changes how the body produces and releases chemicals in the body responsible for feelings of pleasure and happiness. Eventually, the user believes they need to use cocaine to feel “normal.” Although cocaine withdrawal does not produce significant physical symptoms (as you may see when detoxing from alcohol or opioids), the psychological symptoms of cocaine withdrawal can vary widely and be challenging to manage without comprehensive treatment support.

A treatment program for cocaine addiction typically focuses on behavioral change. Using a combination of evidence-based therapy models and alternative therapy options, the team at Relevance Recovery will work with you to design a treatment program that meets your unique treatment needs and goals. The most common behavioral therapy used to treat cocaine addiction is cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT. The CBT model encourages you to examine negative thoughts and behaviors to better understand the roots of your addiction. Only after understanding the triggers that lead you to cocaine use can you change your addictive behaviors. Other common therapies may include contingency management or motivational incentives, therapeutic communities, and community-based recovery groups such as 12 step programs.

Reach Out to Relevance Recovery Today

Left untreated, cocaine addiction can have overwhelmingly harmful impacts on your physical, psychological, and spiritual health. With the proper support and the right treatment environment, recovery and long-term freedom from cocaine are possible. If you are ready to begin your journey towards healing, contact us at Relevance Recovery today. 

For several years, the opioid epidemic has been at the forefront of concern for law enforcement, federal and state agencies, medical providers, and addiction treatment professionals. It is safe to say that nearly everyone across the United States has, in some way, been touched by the impacts of opioid addiction. The effects of opioid use are not restricted to any one demographic, region, or economic standing. Addiction, overdose, and death from opioid use can affect anyone at any time. Opioid is a broad term used to describe various prescription and illicit drugs, including prescription painkillers and “street drugs” such as heroin. 

What Is Heroin?

Heroin is classified as an opioid. It is manufactured using morphine, a naturally occurring substance taken from the seed pod of the opium poppy plants grown in Asia, Mexico, and Columbia. Depending on how it is manufactured, heroin can be a white or brown powder or a black sticky substance referred to as black tar heroin. Heroin goes by other names, including smack and hell dust. It can be taken into the body in several ways, including smoking, snorting, inhaling through the nose, or being injected. Some people also mix heroin with crack cocaine to create a more potent drug. This practice is known as speedballing. 

What Are the Signs Someone Needs Heroin Treatment in New Jersey?

Heroin is a highly addictive drug. The risk of overdose with heroin use is significant, and it does not take long for someone using heroin to develop a tolerance for the drug, increasing their risk for overdose further. Depending on the duration of someone’s addiction, symptoms may be mild at first and progress rapidly as they continue to use, or their dosing increases due to tolerance. In many cases, the physical symptoms of heroin use occur quickly. After someone injects heroin, they will feel symptoms of euphoria and happiness, often within a matter of seconds.

Signs of addiction and indicators that someone needs heroin treatment in New Jersey manifest in physical and psychological ways. Some of the most common physical symptoms of heroin use include dry mouth, flushed skin, constricted pupils, itching, vomiting, decreased respiratory rate, and gastric disturbances. Another common symptom that is easily noticed is constricted pupils. People who use heroin regularly often need laxatives or stool softeners as ongoing use can cause chronic and severe constipation. You may also see nonphysical signs and symptoms, including new or worsening financial difficulties, drug-seeking behavior, the presence of drug paraphernalia, increased isolation, and new or worsening legal problems. 

Someone addicted to heroin and has developed a tolerance will experience withdrawal symptoms when they reduce or stop using. Symptoms of withdrawal are another sign someone needs heroin treatment. Some of the most common withdrawal symptoms those who have developed a substance use disorder may experience when withdrawing from heroin include jitters or shaking, gastrointestinal issues (vomiting, nausea, vomiting), body aches and bone pain, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, and uncontrollable leg movements. In other more severe cases, withdrawal symptoms from heroin (as well as other opioids) could include severe and life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. These may consist of delirium tremens (DTs), abnormal heart rate, abnormal respiratory rates, and seizures.

Reach Out to Relevance Recovery Today for More Information About Heroin Treatment in New Jersey

If you or a loved one struggles with heroin addiction, don’t wait to seek treatment. Chronic heroin use can result in detrimental physical and psychological effects. Because heroin withdrawal can result in severe and sometimes life-threatening symptoms, medically supervised detox is highly recommended for those looking to quit heroin. In a medically supervised setting, a team of highly trained medical professionals is available throughout the detox process to ensure your safety. Once detox is complete, you can successfully transition into the therapeutic portion of an addiction treatment program in New Jersey. If you are ready to overcome heroin addiction, contact us at Relevance in New Jersey today to learn more about our comprehensive treatment programs.

Deciding to seek addiction treatment is a decision often accompanied by many concerns and questions. One of the most significant is usually “how can I afford to pay for rehab”? The cost of treatment depends on your unique treatment; however, there are affordable treatment options for everyone regardless of income. It can be challenging to commit to something costly, like rehab. Still, it is essential to remember that seeking and completing addiction treatment is an investment in your mental health and physical recovery from addiction. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the ability to pay for therapy using personal or employer-sponsored insurance plans opened doors to treatment once closed to many. 

Does Insurance Cover Rehab? 

In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare) was signed into law. One significant benefit to the act is the expansion of treatment options for those covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, it required many insurance companies to include addiction treatment options as part of their standard health insurance coverage. Both of these changes to how insurance paid for addiction treatment helped ensure millions more Americans have access to potentially life-saving addiction and mental health treatment services as rehabs across the nation. Today, finding an insurance plan that covers addiction treatment is easier than ever. 

The Health Insurance Marketplace offers Affordable Care Act sponsored programs that provide addiction treatment coverage are required to provide coverage for addiction treatment as they would any other medical procedure, including inpatient and outpatient treatment services. Affordable Care plans assist with inpatient rehab services, including medically assisted detox, treatment, and therapy. 

In the outpatient setting, insurance plans will help with evaluations, treatment medications, clinic visits, counseling, drug and alcohol testing, and home health visits. Affordable Care Act-based plans are available to anyone searching for private medical insurance. It is important to remember that the amount of coverage available for treatment services depends on a few factors, including the level of coverage purchased. In many cases, insurance will cover between sixty and ninety percent of inpatient or outpatient treatment expenses. 

Why It’s Important to Get Sober at Rehab and Not on Your Own

Getting sober is sometimes a challenging process and not one that is safely accomplished without comprehensive support. Whether mild or severe, withdrawal symptoms are part of the detox process for everyone who enters addiction treatment. For some, detox may be accompanied by mild symptoms that are easily managed without significant medical assistance or intervention. However, for others, the withdrawal process can bring about dangerous and even fatal symptoms and complications. Some of the more intense symptoms related to detox can quickly become unmanageable when detoxing alone, leading to relapse. This is especially common when detoxing from specific substances, including alcohol and opioids. For these reasons, choosing to detox alone may not be safe or beneficial.

Medically supervised detox and addiction treatment programs like Relevance Recovery provide the safest and most successful path to sobriety. In a medically supervised detox setting where adequate treatment options, therapy models, and highly trained staff are available for ongoing support, the detox process can be more comfortable and successful than would be feasible when trying to get sober on your own. 

Get More Information From the Team at Relevance Recovery

Suppose you (or a loved one) are ready to take the first steps towards overcoming addiction. In that case, it is important to begin your journey in a safe, supported environment where you can focus on healing and your sobriety goals. At Relevance Recovery, our treatment team will work with you to design a detox and treatment plan that helps you meet your goals and maintain lasting recovery. Contact our Freehold, NJ rehab today to learn more about how your insurance coverage can help cover rehab. 

If you are considering alcohol rehab, it is likely that you have come across various types of programs available to meet your addiction treatment needs. While researching addiction rehabs near you, you will see facilities that provide inpatient residential care, intensive outpatient care, and outpatient treatment programs, among others. Deciding which program is right for you can quickly become confusing. Outpatient alcohol rehab is a popular and highly effective way to treat alcohol use disorder (or alcoholism). Outpatient rehabs provide those seeking treatment the ability to get help for their addiction without interfering with day-to-day obligations and responsibilities. Outpatient programs offer various services, including medication-assisted detox and therapy and peer support groups.

What Are Outpatient Alcohol Programs?

Outpatient alcohol treatment programs provide similar comprehensive, evidence-based treatments like those found in an inpatient residential setting. The most significant benefit to outpatient treatment programs is the ability to receive potentially lifesaving services without having to live onsite at the treatment facility throughout the duration of your program. Also, outpatient programs are usually not as intensive as inpatient residential programs due to the design of the treatment environment. This provides you the freedom to continue going to work, school, and meeting family obligations while receiving treatment. 

Outpatient programs are often an excellent option for someone with a mild addiction or someone who has completed an inpatient treatment program and is not quite ready yet to resume day-to-day life without the ongoing support found in the treatment environment. Also, outpatient programs are an excellent option for those with a stable home environment and limited concerns about exposure to triggers. However, it is important to note that outpatient programs, while a great alternative to 30-, 60-, or 90-day inpatient residential programs, are not a good fit for everyone. 

If you have completed an addiction treatment program before and experienced relapse, outpatient treatment is likely not the best fit for you. Additionally, if you’ve been struggling with a long-term drinking problem or have a severe addiction, an inpatient residential treatment program might be the best place to start before stepping down to an outpatient program like Relevance Recovery.

How Do I Know an Outpatient Alcohol Program Is Right for Me? 

Your treatment needs and the severity of your addiction will help determine if outpatient rehab is right for you. Like inpatient programs, outpatient programs involve daily treatment (including counseling, therapy, or group sessions). Many outpatient programs last between three and six months but can last longer if needed. There are several benefits to outpatient care, including lower cost, different types of care and care intensity levels, variable appointment availability, and likely, most importantly, the ability to continue receiving life-changing treatment while living at home. Another benefit to outpatient alcohol rehab is the integration of peer support groups, including traditional 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and like-skill programs, including help with housing, educational applications, and employment assistance. 

Reach Out to Relevance Recovery Today

Acknowledging a struggle with alcohol is difficult. Deciding to seek treatment and overcome an adverse relationship with alcohol is also challenging. At Relevance Recovery, many of our treatment providers have shared a similar experience and, therefore, understand the struggles associated with going to rehab. Addiction is a disease, and like many chronic illnesses, it can be successfully treated. At Relevance Recovery, our treatment team will work with you to design a comprehensive outpatient treatment program that addresses your treatment needs and goals. If you are ready to begin your journey of sobriety, today is the day to contact the admissions team at Relevance Recovery to learn more about how our Freehold, NJ outpatient alcohol rehab can help you overcome alcohol addiction. 

Opioids (or narcotics) are medications prescribed by doctors to help reduce symptoms associated with chronic or persistent pain such as headaches or backaches. Some prescription opioids are also used by patients recovering from a surgical procedure or struggling with severe pain associated with cancer or chronic injury. Most of the opioid drugs people are familiar with are legal; however, a significant portion of the population struggles with addictions to illegally manufactured opioids as well. Opioid drugs, whether prescription or illicit, work by attaching themselves to the opioid receptors in the brain, on the spinal cord, and in other parts of the body. This connection blocks pain messages sent from the body through the nervous system to the spinal cord and the brain. When someone uses a prescription or illegal opioid, the pain that they struggle with becomes manageable. Prescription opioids are highly beneficial for pain management; however, the risk for addiction requiring intervention at an addiction treatment center is high. 

What Are Opioids? 

Opioids are a class of drugs that includes illegal substances (such as Heroin), synthetically produced opioids like fentanyl, methadone, and suboxone, and prescription pain medications such as oxycodone morphine, and hydrocodone, among others. All opioid drugs, whether prescription or otherwise, are chemically related. Each acts on the opioid nerve cells throughout the body and brain, producing feelings of euphoria and joy in addition to pain relief. Even prescribed use can lead to dependency and addiction. 

Suboxone and methadone are frequently used in an addiction treatment setting as part of medically assisted addiction detox and therapy. When used under supervision, methadone and suboxone can significantly help to decrease the intensity and severity of withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, they are also frequently misused, leading to severe withdrawal symptoms. 

Why It’s Important to Go to a Treatment Center That Understands Opioid Addiction

Regular opioid use, more often than not, leads to the development of tolerance to their effects. Tolerance inevitably leads to physical and psychological dependence. When you are dependent on a substance and stop using it, painful and unpleasant symptoms can develop. In the case of opioid addiction, these symptoms, also called withdrawal symptoms, can sometimes be dangerous and even fatal. These detox and withdrawal symptoms are key reasons it’s essential to go to a treatment center that understands opioid addiction. 

When you stop using an opioid after developing a dependence on its effects, you will experience withdrawal. Some of the most common opioids that lead to withdrawal symptoms include prescriptions such as Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Codeine, and Morphine; illicit drugs like Heroin and medications used to help treat addiction, including methadone. Depending on the substance you use, withdrawal symptoms can begin in as little as six hours after your last dose. Common opioid withdrawal symptoms include sweating, gastric disturbances, anxiety, body aches, agitation, nausea, and vomiting. Other, more severe symptoms include delirium tremens (DTs), irregular respirations, irregular heartbeat, and seizures. 

The more severe symptoms related to opioid withdrawal make detoxing in a safe environment essential to your health and safety. It is not uncommon for someone addicted to opioids to attempt to detox on their own or “cold turkey.” Due to the unpredictable and often unpleasant nature of withdrawal symptoms, these unsupported attempts frequently lead to relapse as withdrawal symptoms eventually become too difficult and overwhelming to manage. In a medically supervised detox setting like Relevance, trained medical staff is available to guide you through the detox process and ensure your safety throughout while assisting with symptom management. Detox is often a difficult process, but it is the first essential step on the journey to sobriety. 

 If you are ready to start your journey towards overcoming addiction, reach out to the team at Relevance Recovery today to learn more about our opioid addiction treatment programs. 

If your child has struggled with a substance use disorder for which they have completed treatment, maintaining sobriety often remains a challenge. Unfortunately, despite treatment and participation in ongoing therapy and support groups, the potential for relapse is always there. According to data provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and other similar agencies, as many as sixty percent of people who complete an addiction treatment program will experience at least one incidence of relapse on their journey to sobriety. Knowing and understanding the warning signs of relapse can help parents be better educated on what to look out for if they are concerned about relapse in their children. 

How to Tell if Your Child Has Relapsed

Addiction is considered a chronic disease, and like many other chronic illnesses, there is always a possibility of relapse no matter how long someone has been sober. Once relapse occurs, it can be challenging for your child (or anyone else) to get back on the road to recovery. Relapse is not a sudden event but a process. The process of relapse is generally broken down into three stages: emotional, psychological, and physical. 

Emotional relapse is generally the first stage of relapse. This stage often occurs before your child even considers using or drinking again. During this stage, you may notice increased negative emotions, including moodiness, anxiety, and anger. You may also see changes in behavior, such as a change in sleeping and eating habits. 

These are some of the earliest signs your child may be relapsing or could relapse in the future. It is vital to recognize the signs of emotional relapse as soon as possible as early intervention could potentially prevent actual relapse. The second stage of relapse is mental relapse. During this stage, someone in recovery is frequently torn. Part of them wants to remain in recovery, while another part wants to return to using or drinking. 

During the mental phase of relapse, your child will begin to think about using it again. They will also start to consider how to use it without anyone finding out. Once someone reaches this stage, it can be very difficult to stop relapse from happening. The final stage of relapse, physical relapse, involves actually using. Physical relapse occurs when someone who has been sober breaks their sobriety. Unfortunately, using just once can lead to intense and overwhelming cravings to use again. It is not uncommon for someone who struggles with addiction to believe they can use “just once” without it becoming a problem. Addiction never goes away entirely, and even though your child may think they can casually use, it is (almost always) not the case. 

What to Do if Your Child Relapses

The best way to overcome relapse is by taking quick action. It is essential for your child to recognize that relapse, while a setback, is not a sign of failure. Each incidence of relapse comes with the possibility of evolving into continued abuse which can result in severe physical and psychological health problems. Identifying and understanding why the relapse occurred can help identify gaps in your child’s relapse prevention plan. Most importantly, it is vital to seek comprehensive addiction treatment to help your child get back on track. During treatment, they will have the opportunity to gain further insight into their triggers and learn more about how to better manage triggering events, people, and situations to prevent another relapse in the future.

If you are concerned your child may have relapsed, or you notice signs that indicate a relapse is possible, don’t wait another day to seek help. Reach out to the admissions team at Relevance Recovery to learn more about how our addiction treatment programs can help your child and your family. 

Like prescription opioids (or prescription painkillers), benzodiazepines are legally prescribed and, when used properly, are beneficial in helping those who struggle with specific conditions reduce the severity of their symptoms. However, also like opioids, benzodiazepines can be highly addictive and are, unfortunately, frequently misused. There is often widespread conversation regarding the impacts of opioid use and addiction throughout the nation. Let’s dive in the Xanax Blue Pill and it’s adversaries.

Despite producing significant effects as well, benzodiazepines often fall under the radar when it comes to prescribing scrutiny and the overall “war on drugs.” Although Xanax is considered a Schedule IV controlled substance in the United States and it is illegal to possess it without a prescription, incidences of illegal manufacture and sale continue to rise, leading to increasing struggles with dependency, addiction, and overdose deaths. 

What Is Xanax?

Xanax is the brand name for a commonly prescribed benzodiazepine called alprazolam. Xanax is frequently prescribed to help reduce the intensity and severity of symptoms related to panic disorders and anxiety. Xanax acts as a central nervous system depressant. This means it slows the activities of the brain and various neurological reactions throughout the body. Taking Xanax produces feelings of euphoria and relaxation similar to those of alcohol. 

Prescription Xanax comes in a variety of shapes and colors. Unfortunately, this makes it easier to illegally reproduce and difficult to identify “real” pills versus manufactured ones. Often, Xanax is distributed in different doses based on color. Brand name Xanax pills are recognized as white rectangular-shaped bars that weigh two milligrams.  Generic versions of Xanax are typically yellow, green, or blue. 

Is Xanax Addictive?

Xanax is considered one of the most addictive benzodiazepine medications on the market. When taken, even according to prescription, the effects of Xanax are felt quickly. In many cases, daily use of Xanax for a period of six weeks or more will result in dependency. Despite being considered a drug with a low potential for abuse (as a Schedule IV controlled substance), thousands of people seek treatment each year for Xanax addiction or dependency. 

What to Do If You Find Out Your Loved One Is Abusing Xanax Pills That Are Blue?

First, it is important to note there are indeed legal and safe Xanax prescription pills that are blue. They are generally a generic version of Xanax. However, a far more dangerous and potent version of Xanax pills that are blue circulates outside of legal prescriptions. Commonly referred to as “blue footballs,” these manufactured versions of Xanax often contain significantly higher doses of alprazolam and are laced with fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid. Fentanyl laced 

Xanax has been responsible for countless overdose deaths in recent years. 

While there are indeed blue Xanax pills that are, when taken appropriately, safe and beneficial, it is essential to watch out for counterfeit Xanax or a loved one who is taking Xanax without a prescription. If you find out your loved one is abusing Xanax pills that are blue, it is essential to reach out for professional help and detox services as soon as possible. Counterfeit Xanax pills or blue footballs result in thousands of incidences of medical emergencies and fatal overdose each year. Unfortunately, even those who are taking Xanax as prescribed can end up struggling with a Xanax addiction. 

Get Help With a Xanax Addiction Today at Relevance Recovery

Addiction treatment programs like those are Relevance Recovery are proven to help those struggling with addiction. Specific therapeutic models, including behavioral therapies, alternative therapies, and peer support groups, reduce the psychological impacts of Xanax addiction. To manage the physical and emotional effects of Xanax addiction, it is safest to taper off Xanax in a safe and controlled setting. To learn more about Xanax addiction treatment programs, reach out to the admissions team at Relevance Recover today. 

Sober living environments often serve as an excellent stepping-stone between addiction treatment and transitioning to your home environment after your treatment program ends. Regardless of their level of care (inpatient, outpatient, etc.), many treatment programs encourage participants new to sobriety to spend time in a sober living home. The period immediately following treatment is often challenging, and many struggle with adjusting to their newly sober lives. Sober living homes offer a safe setting between the highly supportive treatment environment and home. Time spent in sober living in Monmouth County, NJ, provides you the opportunity to practice and reinforce the coping skills you learned during rehab. Often, sober Living in New Jersey can make the difference between maintaining long-term sobriety and relapsing back to old patterns. 

Sober Living Homes Explained 

During rehab, clients are immersed in the activities of their recovery plan. Once outside of treatment, this changes, and in some cases, difficulties related to maintaining sobriety arise. In a sober living environment, residents are not confined within the home. For some, this newfound freedom is a blessing, yet it can increase the challenges of maintaining ongoing sobriety and avoiding relapse for others. The goal of a sober living home is to allow addicts new to recovery a safe space to ease back into “normal life” while slowly resuming day-to-day tasks and activities. Although sober living environments are far less restrictive than many treatment programs, there are still rules that must be followed, including curfews, mandatory attendance at group meetings, and in some cases, random (and required) drug and alcohol testing. Testing is used as means to ensure those living in a sober living home have not relapsed and or are not exposing others in the environment to substances and potential relapse triggers. 

What Do You Do When You Live in a Sober Living Home?

While living in a sober living home, residents can attend ongoing treatment and participate in support groups. In many cases, support groups take the form of traditional 12-step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous. In addition to peer support groups like AA and NA, residents staying in a sober living home often continue to participate in ongoing addiction treatment therapy either in a group or individual setting. Continued therapy helps reinforce coping skills learned in early treatment while providing a safe and supported environment to talk about fears and challenges related to sobriety. 

Another significant benefit to a sober living home is the opportunity to forge friendships with like-minded peers who will help reinforce the desire to remain sober. Unfortunately, when a former addict gets sober, it often changes their relationships with family and friends. Friends who do not share the same view on sobriety may increase exposure to triggering situations and relapse potential. Many addicts in recovery feel they need to distance themselves from family and friends to reduce trigger exposure leading to isolation and struggles with depression. Sober living homes provide a support system that can not only help residents avoid the isolation that comes with going directly from intensive addiction treatment back home but provides an environment of increased support during the early and often fragile stages of recovery. 

If you have recently completed addiction treatment or are participating in a treatment program at Relevance Recover in Freehold, NJ, talk to your treatment team about how sober living in Monmouth County, NJ, can help on your journey to long-term recovery. The support provided by treatment staff and peer groups can be of significant benefit during the often challenging early stages of sobriety. If you would like to learn more about our sober living community or our addiction treatment programs in New Jersey, contact the admissions team at Relevance Recovery today. 

Many are familiar with the difficulties experienced when someone is addicted to opioids (prescription painkillers), alcohol, or other drugs. Despite significant efforts to stem the impacts of the opioid crisis, the death toll continues to rise. However, another highly addictive class of drugs does not receive as much attention in the public eye. Like prescription opioids, benzodiazepines are legally prescribed and, when used properly, are beneficial in helping those who struggle with specific conditions mitigate and reduce the severity of their symptoms. However, also like opioids, benzodiazepines can be highly addictive and are, unfortunately, frequently misused. 

Benzodiazepines Explained

Benzodiazepines often referred to as Benzos, are a class of drugs commonly prescribed as part of a treatment program for anxiety and panic disorders as well as difficulties sleeping, muscle relaxation, seizures. In some cases, specific benzodiazepines are used as part of a medically assisted treatment plan for alcohol use disorder recovery. Drugs that fall into this class are prescription sedatives (tranquilizers) such as Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, and Valium. Benzodiazepines have been prescribed to treat various conditions since the 1960s, and since that time, hundreds of different formulas have been produced. Today only fifteen are currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 

How Benzos Are Addictive

When used as directed, benzodiazepines are generally highly effective. However, because the chemical properties of benzodiazepines work in the brain and body in similar ways to opioids, ongoing use or misuse of benzodiazepine drugs carries a high rate of addiction and potential for overdose. Benzodiazepines act on the central nervous system producing sensations of relaxation and sedation. Because of their sedative effects and helpful ability to reduce (and often entirely remove) feelings of panic and anxiety, the user quickly develops an addiction to happier feelings. This also results in addition to the substance itself quite quickly as the user believes they cannot “feel” the same emotions without the help of the drug.

In most cases, after three to four weeks of regular (even prescribed) use, a person will experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug. To reduce the severity of withdrawal, most courses of treatment involving benzodiazepines are limited to no more than thirty-to-sixty-day increments. In instances of abuse and misuse, it is essential to seek comprehensive addiction treatment to ensure a safe and healthy detox from the effects and impacts of benzo use. 

What to Do if You Have a Benzodiazepine Addiction

The use of benzodiazepines, when used as directed, typically does not result in dangerous or life-threatening effects. However, the process of detoxing and withdrawing from benzodiazepines can be dangerous, especially when one attempts to “self-detox” or detox “cold turkey.” If you are ready to detox from benzodiazepines, it is essential to do so in a controlled environment, under medical supervision. In a medically supervised detox setting, addiction treatment professionals and medical providers can ensure you can detox safely from benzodiazepines. 

Depending on your needs, the team at Relevance Recovery will monitor your vitals continuously throughout the detox process and, in some cases, provide medications to help reduce the intensity and severity of your withdrawal symptoms.  Undergoing the detox process in a controlled setting is not only beneficial to your health and safety but to your ongoing treatment process.  Once the medically supervised detox is complete, you can transition directly to a therapeutic program designed to help you achieve and maintain ongoing sobriety.

Relevance Recovery Is Here to Help Set You Free From Addiction 

If you are concerned about your dependence on or addiction to benzodiazepines, it is essential to seek treatment as soon as possible. At Relevance Recovery, our highly trained team of treatment professionals will work with you to create a treatment plan uniquely designed to meet your treatment needs and goals. Let our experienced Freehold, New Jersey team help you take the first steps on your journey to freedom from benzo addiction.