How To Quit Using Benzos

Addiction is a serious disease that doesn’t differentiate based on race, gender, or background. It comes in many forms and can impact anyone at any time. There are a few drugs that are particularly addictive, such as benzodiazepines, which are also known as benzos. If you or someone you know is suffering from a benzo addiction, please seek professional help. Benzos can change one’s life drastically and are extremely addictive. Benzo abuse can also be detrimental to one’s health and is very dangerous

What are Benzodiazepines?

Benzodiazepines, also known as benzos, are a common class of prescription medication that is used to treat a variety of medical conditions. Some of the most common forms of benzos are diazepam, lorazepam, Klonopin, and Xanax. Benzos have two major medical applications. First, benzos are used to stop someone who is having seizures. A seizure takes place when the neurons in the brain start to fire out of control. There are different kinds of seizures such as tonic-clonic, grand mal, and absence seizure.

The other major application of benzos comes in the form of anxiety management. If someone is having a panic attack, benzos such as the commonly prescribed Xanax, stop the panic attack from continues. This medicine is short-acting and can stop a panic attack in its tracks; however, this medication is also incredibly addictive. Benzos are supposed to be prescribed as an emergency use only pill, but people prescribed can end up taking them every day.  The longer someone abuses benzos, the more likely they’ll become addicted. It’s really not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. There are certain signs and symptoms one can look out for when it comes to an addiction to benzos.

What are the Signs & Symptoms?

If someone develops an addiction to benzos, there are a few signs and symptoms that people might note. First, someone who suffers from an addiction to benzos will end up going to the doctor more often than usual. This takes place because someone is going to need a prescription to pick up benzos. Then, that individual might end up going through prescriptions of benzos faster than they should. 

As the addiction worsens, individuals are going to develop mood swings, become increasingly lethargic, and experience slurred speech. They will do anything they can to feed that addiction. When the doctor stops writing prescriptions, someone who suffers from an addiction is going to turn to buying them off the streets. This can directly impact someone’s financial situation as they’re paying out of pocket for the drugs versus using insurance. 

How to Quit

The safest and most effective way to quit using benzos is to seek help from a trained medical professional. Stopping cold turkey is extremely dangerous and can cause health complications, such as seizures. If someone is addicted to their prescription, they can go to the doctor prescribing the medicine and asked to be tapered off. Being “tapered off” means the doctor will determine a smaller dose to give the person, then a smaller dose after that, to gradually get this person off the drug. 

If someone is addicted to benzos that they’re buying off the street, they can also go to a doctor and seek help or they can go to a drug rehab for detox. During detox, the person will also be tapered off the drug, under medical supervision 24 hours a day. Detox at a rehab isn’t only for people who are purchasing benzos illegally, it is for anyone who is addicted regardless of if they have a prescription or not. 

Completing detox at a rehab then attending an inpatient rehab is one of the best ways to ensure someone will get sober and stay sober. During treatment, the addict learns the coping skills needed to stay sober and also gains a support group. Having the support of friends and family is important when getting sober, but having a sober community is even more important for beating a benzo addiction.

Let Us Help!

At Soba Recovery, we offer detox and inpatient treatment programs at both of our Soba Texas and Soba Mesa rehab centers that help people overcome addiction. We provide a unique luxury program that combines traditional addiction treatment with modern therapies to assist clients in overcoming substance abuse for good. If you are interested in learning more about how our program can help you overcome the chains of addiction, contact us today!

How Your Eyes Look on Drugs

Substance abuse impacts your eyesight and vision.

Alcohol and Cocaine, THC, hallucinogens and a myriad of synthetic drugs have been scientifically documented to cause nausea, moodiness, sleepiness, unsteadiness, and aggression. They are also harmful to your eyes too. The abuse of these substances has scientifically proven to cause eye strain, cataracts, vision blurriness, in addition to temporary and permanent blindness, induce nausea, moodiness, sleepiness, unsteadiness, and aggression.

Cigarette Smoking

Cigarette smoking can injure your cataracts which affect the crystalline lenses of your eyes. Your Cataracts is a space of your eye that makes up 1/3 of the images that the brain develops by focusing light onto the retina.

How your eyes look on Dextromethorphan

The abuse of Dextromethorphan can cause you to display symptoms of drunkenness. The extended abuse of this drug can cause sporadic eye movements known as nystagmus. Dextromethorphan is an ingredient commonly used in cough, cold and flu medicines.

How your eyes look on Cocaine

Physicians can utilize cocaine in a medical facility as an eye anesthetic.  On the contrary, if someone offers you cocaine outside of a medical facility you should not take it; you should decline on the grounds that they are not a licensed physician. Cocaine abuse artificially affects your eyes react to light for abnormal periods of time. There are many ophthalmic side effects relating to the improper use of cocaine; you might be unable to sense any extensive injuries right away. However, over time, lesions on the retina and corneal ulcers can occur. Prolonged abuse of cocaine can also cause pain, fuzzy vision and permanent blindness.

How your eyes look on Heroin

Individuals who experience heroin addiction and drug abuse may display symptoms of having hard and constricted pupils. Typically their pupils will not react properly to lower levels of light, which can impair their vision. In addition, prolonged constriction of their arteries or blood vessels can lead to temporary blurred vision or permanent vision loss.

How your eyes look on Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines, chemicals within alcohol and drugs can produce a subtle misalignment of your eyes.  This can enhance the feeling of nauseousness and lightheadedness; which could also lead to vomiting.

Red or Bloodshot eyes are a prevailing symptom of intoxication from Alcohol abuse. Blood vessels spread from the ophthalmic artery curving in a pattern to cross over the optic nerve. They penetrate the back of the eye and run medially near the  Choroid and Sclera Blood vessels which can swell and become enlarged. There are around 6 to 12 Blood vessels for each eye. Symptoms of nausea in the eyes can include variation in the eyes, abnormal pupil diameter, irregular eye movement, and the discoloration of the iris can be used to help one gauge whether another person is inebriated.

Inhalants that cause brain and eye damage

Paint thinner, glue, or nitrous should not be inhaled. These substances can cause brain damage as well as eye deterioration. Abusing these inhalants can cause you to feel intoxicated and light-headed. The inhalation of these substances will cause the eyes to water and change to a reddish color.

Methamphetamine and eye damage

Methamphetamine abuse can cause the eyes to move in irregular motions. In fact, the movements can be almost ten times faster than your normal eye movement. These irregular movements can damage and strain your eye muscles over time.

How your eyes are affected using legal and illegal narcotics

The abuse of legal narcotic drugs such as hydrocodone, fentanyl, and morphine has the potential to damage your eyes at high doses because they can constrict the pupils. Illegal narcotic drugs such as crack cocaine can also constrict the pupils. As extended abuse occurs symptoms of an overdose will be evident because the pupils will not properly respond to changes in light.

How your eyes look on Phencyclidine or PCP

Phencyclidine, otherwise known as PCP, has a pungent chemical taste. PCP can be ground into a white crystalline powder that can be dissolved into alcohol or water. In this form, the drug can easily be applied to leafy plants like mint, marijuana, parsley, and oregano. The powdery form makes it easier for the body to quickly absorb the substances into the bloodstream. Phencyclidine or PCP can cause a user to experience rapid eye motions that the user cannot control.  On the other hand, a person who uses PCP can develop an expressionless stare for 4-6 hours. During this time they might not respond to direct visual cues. The tablet forms can be mixed easily with colors. The idea is to make the drug look like legitimate medicine. If it looks like a tablet it will be easier to distribute.

In conclusion.

The chemicals in the aforementioned drugs can cause addiction because they will compel you to feel carefree, elated or just upbeat; they manage the neurotransmitters in your brain. These chemicals have the ability to affect several physiological functions in your body including the muscles in your eyes. Vision is a crucial role in our ability to balance, adjust our bodies in space, and observe the pattern or movement of variables within our surroundings. If you are taking any of the aforementioned drugs, you should seek medical assistance right away. The prolonged usage of these drugs can ultimately cause you to lose your sight.

The Top Five Signs of Drug Addiction

Drug abuse and addiction are among the most significant problems facing the modern healthcare system today. Those who have watched a loved one struggle with drug addiction know just how quickly this problem can tear someone’s life apart. On the other hand, the problems related to drug abuse and addiction tend to start slowly and insidiously. They are typically easy to overlook. It might start with someone who struggles to battle a simple injury and illness. Then, it balloons into a tremendous problem that can take someone’s entire life down with them, impacting family members and friends along the way.

Therefore, it is critical for everyone to know about the common signs that indicate drug abuse is a serious issue. Knowing these signs ahead of time will help everyone get the help they need as early as possible.

1. The Cravings and Relapses are Real

One of the most significant signs of serious drug abuse is the development of cravings that will lead to a relapse. For example, anxiety and depression are common side effects that come with cravings for an addictive substance. Difficulty concentrating is another common sign. At first, people will promise to give up drugs and say they can do it on their own. Then, when the going gets tough, the cravings start and these symptoms start to set in. That is when the drug use is going to abandon all promises and go off in search of drugs again. Even though someone might say that he or she can quit anytime, this simply isn’t the case. He or she will need help to quit for good.

2. Tolerance Begins to Develop

Another common sign of drug abuse and addiction is the development of something called tolerance. This is the term used to describe the body getting used to having drugs in its system. At first, someone might not need a lot of the substance to achieve the intended effect. People can get high with a relatively small amount.

Then, as someone uses drugs more and more often, they are going to need more drugs to achieve the same effect. This is because the body is getting used to the substance and is developing something called tolerance.

When someone needs more of the drug, this is going to lead to bigger changes in someone’s life. This is going to impact that person’s appearance, eating habits, finances, and more.

3. The Lifestyle Begins to Change

As tolerance sets in, someone’s lifestyle is going to change. This is going to lead to risky behavior. This is because the person is going to place anything and everything else second to drug use. They might even engage in activities that they wouldn’t otherwise. This is going to include activities such as using drug paraphernalia, stealing from others, sharing needles with people, and more. This is going to impact both personal and professional relationships. Their physical health is going to be in jeopardy. This is where others are going to have to step in and help their family member or friend.

4. Motivation is Going to be Impacted

Gradually, someone who is addicted to drugs is going to start to ignore life’s other responsibilities. This might mean dropping out of school. This could mean ignoring work responsibilities. Motivation is going to be at a minimum and is going to strain relationships with family members and friends as well. All of this is going to be sacrificed at the altar of drug use. For this reason, everyone needs to keep an eye out for a drop in motivation or changes in someone’s memory. These are hallmark signs of drug abuse.

5. The Development of Withdrawal

When someone goes for any length of time without having drugs in the body, withdrawal symptoms are going to set in. This is going to come as a result of detox symptoms. The symptoms are going to vary from drug to drug; however, there are a few common themes. For example, sweats, shakes, and irritability and going to be common. Someone is going to have trouble sleeping as he or she goes through withdrawal. These symptoms can be unbearable and some might even lead to seizures. Those who are going through withdrawal are often going t to be begging for drugs. This is where the help of trained professionals is going to be needed.

Rely on the Professionals from Soba Recovery for Addiction Treatment

Anyone who has a loved one dealing with drug abuse knows that this is a serious problem that requires help from trained professionals. That is where Soba Recovery can be of assistance. We are a professional drug and alcohol treatment program with locations in Texas and Arizona. Combining proven methods with an innovative twist, Soba Recovery offers detox and inpatient assistance for those in need. To learn more call us today.