Valium (diazepam) continues to be a highly used substance both in the United States and abroad. Unfortunately, it is also highly misused. This leads many people to ask the question, “Is Valium addictive?” The answer is “yes.” It is highly addictive and can be highly disruptive to both the individual struggling as well as their loved ones. The good news is that there are many effective means, methods, and modalities that can help one recover from Valium addiction. The key is to reach out and ask for help as soon as signs and symptoms appear.
Is Valium Addictive?
Now, as previously mentioned, “Is Valium addictive?” Yes, there is now a long history of documented Valium addiction. However, it is not always as cut and dry as one may think. For example, some people may become dependent on Valium, but never reach the stage of addiction. Now, many people would probably ask, “What is the difference between dependence and addiction?” The answer is a psychological one.
People who become dependent on a substance become physically reliant on it. For example, someone who is dependent on a sleeping pill may struggle with sleep cycles if they stop taking it. However, they will not feel emotionally distraught or experience cravings surrounding it. That is the primary difference between dependence and addiction – the psychological pull toward the substance. This is also why addiction is categorized as a disease.
Yes, addiction is a disease (also referred to as a “disorder”) and not some sort of moral failing or “choice.” According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences. It is considered a brain disorder because it involves functional changes to brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control. Those changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs.” This includes Valium addiction.
Better Understanding Valium
Valium is said to have led a mental health pharmacology revolution in the 20th century. Yes, it has helped millions of people who struggle with issues of mental health, especially anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, many people were not informed of the risks associated with Valium when it was prescribed. Many of these people became addicted to the substance. Also, many people who did not need the drug sought Valium for its euphoric effects.
So, what exactly is Valium? Yes, it is a medication used for anxiety and alcohol withdrawal. However, it has other negative characteristics. According to the peer-reviewed thesis Diazepam, by Doctors Dhaliwal, Rosani, and Saadabadi, “Diazepam is a Schedule IV controlled substance with the potential for abuse. Development of dependence and tolerance can occur in addiction-prone individuals, in long-term treatment, or those patients taking high doses. Thus, these individuals should be under careful supervision; once an individual develops dependence, the risk of developing withdrawal symptoms increases.”
Now, there has been a push to reduce Valium addiction, but it remains a significant problem. According to the peer-reviewed journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience, [T]he efficacy and fast onset of diazepam brought about a higher risk of dependence and abuse. Benzodiazepine addiction and misuse arose from early, overly optimistic expectations of the safety of diazepam in the 1970s, which led to inappropriate use in cases where pharmacotherapy was unnecessary. This resulted in a backlash against benzodiazepine prescriptions and ultimately engendered regulatory restriction.”
Treating Valium Addiction With Psychotherapy
The good news is that many people have recovered from Valium addiction, and so can you or a loved one. The primary source of treatment that people use tends to fall under the category of psychotherapy. These are psychotherapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
These therapies are particularly effective because they get to the underlying cause of the Valium addiction. It is not about the pill itself, but rather why someone takes the pill in the first place.
DBT is especially effective because it helps with “acceptance” and “mindfulness.” According to the peer-reviewed journal Psychiatry (Edgmont), “In DBT, several interventions and skills are geared toward conveying acceptance of the patient and helping the patient accept himself or herself, others, and the world. One such intervention is mindfulness. In DBT, mindfulness skills help patients attend to what is happening in the present. Some of the mindfulness skills involve attending to and nonjudgmentally observing the current experience, describing the facts of the current experience or situation, and fully participating in the activity/experience of the present, while attending to one thing at a time (‘one-mindfully’) and focusing on effective, skillful behavior.”
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we know that Valium addiction can cause incredible pain in a household. However, there is a solution. We offer effective, individualized, and comprehensive recovery plans, with a focus on the future.
If you are ready to stop living in the pain and start living in the present, then you are ready for recovery. You can do this! We can help.
Many people think Valium is safe because it is prescribed by doctors. This is not true. Valium is commonly misused, which can lead to addiction. The good news is that there are many effective treatment options for Valium addiction. There are also long-term solutions to help heal the whole family. If you feel like you or a loved one may be struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or co-occurring disorders, we can help get you on the right road to recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about effective treatment options for Valium addiction, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
