Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Treatment Rates Increase for those Addicted to Benzodiazepines & Narcotic Painkillers

A recent survey found that the number of people who have entered treatment for addiction to benzos such as Valium and Xanax as well as narcotic painkillers such as Oxycodone has increased more than 500% in the past ten years. The overall increase in substance abuse treatment admissions during this period of time was just 4 percent as reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Reports have concluded that more than 33 thousand people received treatment for co-occurring addictions to both narcotic painkillers and benzos in 2010 alone. This figure is a sign of the increased need for specialized treatment centers that can treat multiple addictions in conjunction with one another. Substance abuse of this magnitude is truly an alarming situation and a danger that all members of the treatment community must be made aware of.

Dual addiction is common when a person is addicted to benzodiazepines.

SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde states, “ When patients are battling severe withdrawal effects from two addictive drugs, new treatment strategies may be needed to meet this challenge. These findings will help us better understand the nature and scope of this problem and to develop better approaches to address it.”

The report also confirmed that nearly 40% of those who were suffering from these dual addictions began using both drugs within the same year. For those who did not begin using the drugs in the same period of time, most became addicted to narcotics painkillers prior to becoming addicted to benzodiazepines. Many of the patients who require treatment for these addictions suffer from a psychiatric disorder which must also be addressed during treatment.

How Treatment Centers can Help

Many treatment centers are already equipped to handle co-occurring disorders such as mental illness and addiction but there is little research and evidence behind the number of facilities that can actually treat dual addictions as well as co-occurring mental health disorders too. The rise in addiction to these two drugs paired with mental illness can create great challenges in the treatment community but there is hope. Treatment centers can work with patients to reduce the negative effects of withdrawal, provide education and support for mental illness and put together an action plan that helps that patient stay sober.

If you or someone you know is addicted to narcotic painkillers, benzodiazepines, or both, contact Treatment Centers today to find a local addiction treatment facility that can help. Though the addiction may be difficult to treat, there is help available to you!

More Treatment & Detox Articles

EnterHealth

Enterhealth Introduces Advanced Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Treatment, Opens Life Recovery Center Enterhealth’s program includes continuous online support Dallas, Texas – A new, advanced approach to treating alcohol and drug addiction will become available next week to a nation- and world-wide clientele with the opening of the Enterhealth Life Recovery Center, located near Dallas…..

Wealthy women more likely to binge drink

Wealthy and professional women are far more likely to binge drink than those on lower incomes, a new survey of Scotland’s health has suggested. Official figures showed 31 per cent of females in homes with the highest earners drink more than the recommended limit of 14 units per week, the equivalent of seven pints of….

How to recognize alcoholism in your family

Alcoholism is a family disease. If you are living with an alcoholic, whether it is a spouse or a child, your family is dysfunctional. There is much shame associated with alcoholism. It is not fair but there are judgements put on you and your family. Many people think that you should be able to control….

Basing treatment on faith

At one time, Randy and Kim Cox had no idea they’d be dedicating their lives to a program like Rivers of Hope Ministries. They were missionaries based in Russia for 10 years before returning to the States, where they spent time both in Randy’s native Texas and Kim’s hometown of Prattville. In Russia, a country….

The Disease Model of Addiction

If I went to my doctor with a set of symptoms, no one would question the fact that I was sick. No one would impose a moral judgment on me for having those symptoms, and I wouldn’t be viewed as a law breaker for being ill. But many people reject the idea of addiction as….