Valium Abuse

The drug Valium is pretty much a household word, so much so that it has made its way into many unkind jokes. Most often used as a sedative to relieve anxiety, it is often prescribed for short-term use in connection with everything from helping people through a dentist visit to relief from insomnia. But, like many other drugs with affect the central nervous system, it is subject to abuse and dependency if misused or used for long periods of time.

Addiction Recovery

Once an over-the-counter drug with a wide range of legitimate uses, Valium is now prescription only but, unfortunately, widely used illegally in combination with street drugs. It is often used by addicts to boost the “high” obtained from other drugs. The relief it offers in the way of soothing anxiety, relaxing tense muscles, and inducing sleep makes it seem like a harmless way to overcome short-term stress. It is dangerous, however, because it not only reduces mental alertness, making driving and other such activities dangerous, but builds up a tolerance in users within days. That leads to taking higher and higher dosages to obtain relief from the original physical problem. By some estimates, up to 50% of patients prescribed Valium (diazepam) for six months at therapeutic dosages develop some level of dependence.

Valium abuse stems from the need for more and more of the drug to get to sleep, to relieve anxiety, to relax. Overdoses, especially if the Valium is taken with alcohol, can lead to coma and respiratory arrest. Sudden stoppage of Valium is not a good idea, as withdrawal symptoms can include insomnia, anxiety, panic attacks, heart palpitations, depression, hypertension and hyperactivity, or agitation and mental fuzziness. Work performance will be noticeably affected and social relationships will likely be negatively impacted by Valium abuse.

Treatment for Valium abuse should be undertaken with a doctor’s supervision, preferably by someone who specializes in drug treatment and abuse. A qualified drug treatment center may be a good choice, as management of withdrawal symptoms is important. Counseling is also in order to help the patient overcome whatever underlying need drove him or her to depend on the drug in the first place. Anxiety does not usually spring from nowhere. A good, comprehensive drug treatment program will do more than gradually wean the addict off Valium over weeks or months. It will help to ensure that the desire for Valium and its effects will not return, and help the recovering addict to manage that desire if it does.

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Drug treatment, for Valium or any other addictive substance is an ongoing process, and never as simple and straightforward as advertisements may make it sound. Valium abuse is a serious problem, with physical effects on the brain and respiratory system. Quite apart from the mental confusion and impairment it causes, the strong dependency it induces most often requires a comprehensive course of treatment through a regular drug rehabilitation center or other facility specializing in treatment for drug abuse. Valium is not a joke, and should not treated as harmless.